Areej Fatima is a 2025 Canada Student Merit Award winner. She achieved this award for obtaining the highest standing of her class in the fourth and final year of her degree. Here is a brief biography of the winner.
Areej’s undergraduate journey only fueled her fascination with diverse molecules, reactions, and pathways that work together to contribute to the history and diversity of life. With the purpose of gaining and developing specialised knowledge within this field, Areej is now pursuing a Master of Science in Biochemistry at the University of Regina, under the supervision of Dr. Dae-Yeon Suh. Her research is involved with the biosynthesis of protective biopolymers of sporopollenin and lignin-like materials in ancestral plant life at risk from stressors, such as desiccation and ultraviolet radiation, in new sub-aerial environments, thus allowing for colonisation on land. Using Physcomitrium patens as a model moss, she will explore how sporopollenin is polymerized and deposited during spore maturation, evolutionary relationships, and more. This will offer insight in applications in biotechnology, medicine, and wastewater treatment.
Alongside her studies, Areej remains engaged with her interest in the field of medicine outside of the classroom. She has volunteered at a medical clinic, gaining unparalleled experience with both direct and indirect patient care, developing valuable skills that are applicable throughout her life and career.
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