Reflection on My NF-POGO Centre of Excellence Fellowship (2024/2025)

When I arrived at the NF-POGO Centre of Excellence Fellowship in the academic year 2024/2025 in Canada at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, I faced an invigorating but intimidating experience as I left home and stepped into an immensely different setting. Adapting to the harsh winters of Newfoundland was one of the biggest challenges; yet the local population's warm attitude and the academic community's receptiveness helped acclimate me. A very instrumental role of my experience was formed through the mentorship within the FESA Lab. Dr. Matthew and the FESA lab members continually provided advice, encouragement, and constructive criticism. I gained valuable lessons on what it takes to be an intentional mentor with patience, consistency, and responsiveness.

Aside from mentorship, the program afforded me an unprecedented amount of practical and transdisciplinary scientific training. This training included applied oceanography through a "Python boot camp," sea mapping, and field courses on ocean training, instrument-based ocean observation, remote sensing, and hands-on coding and data analysis in R and Python. The program also taught marine data management, science communication, and innovation challenges. I also had experiential learning on board a research vessel and at the Hakai Institute, where I participated in the deployment of the argofloats, learnt about CO₂ concentration measurement, and field/lab DNA sequencing. These experiences, among many others, not only helped me successfully finish my master’s thesis with distinction and complete my NF-POGO final project, but also raised my commitment to become a mentor who provides opportunities and extends guidance unselfishly, as was provided to me.