Alisha Anwar
Charting a Purposeful Path in Neuroscience through Research and Advocacy
Alisha Anwar is wrapping up her first year as an Honours Neuroscience student at the 天涯社区, a place she reached through her profound curiosity for understanding the unknowns of the human mind, and a commitment to making a difference in people’s lives. She hopes to use her studies as a starting point on her mission to contribute to the cure of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s disease.
“The ability to study the brain, one of the most complex and least understood organs while contributing to real-world impact is what drives me… The fact that a collection of cells, electrical impulses, and chemical reactions can create something as intricate as memory and personality fascinated me.” She believes that few things are more devastating than losing one’s memories or watching a loved one go through that process, which drives her to explore the brain’s remarkable capabilities, but also its vulnerabilities, to stop such processes before they begin.
This empathy for others is embodied through Alisha’s hands-on experiences in healthcare, where her committed volunteerism at a health centre located in Rocky Mountain House highlighted and reinforced her ability to connect with patients. “It taught me the importance of compassion in healthcare,” she shares. “Whether I end up in research, public health, or an interdisciplinary role, I know that my work needs to be driven by empathy at the highest level.”
As a woman of colour, Alisha has seen firsthand how, as she describes, “systemic barriers affect who gets to be in the room,” driving her to be an advocate for representation in STEM. Although she has always felt aware of the impact a person’s intersectional identity can have on their experience in STEM, it wasn’t until she began her role on the City of Edmonton Youth Council that she saw the breadth of the systemic issues that contribute to this. She not only identified these issues but actively worked to counteract them through her work on the Policy Subcommittee, focused on anti-racism initiatives. Alisha shares that policy work isn’t just about making recommendations, it’s about using the power of policy to reshape the systems that define who has access to STEM, whether this be through equitable educational funding, diverse representation in leadership, or tackling biases in research.
“Science thrives on collaboration and innovation, but if entire groups are excluded from the conversation due to structural inequities, we’re limiting progress,” Alisha states.
Alisha also serves as a long-standing member of the WISEST Youth Council and co-lead of the STEM Profiles Project. Through this project, she helps amplify stories reflecting STEM journeys' diversity and non-linear nature. For Alisha, these stories are personal reminders that there’s no single “correct” path, a lesson that has been of importance to her when figuring out her own path in STEM. At times, she has struggled with the overwhelm that can come with trying to break into such a vast and fast-moving field, but she reminds herself that the accomplishments of others does not diminish the value of her contributions.
Looking ahead, Alisha envisions a future where she can bridge the gap between science and society. She finds all the possible ways of translating neuroscience research to concrete results that help patients, one of the most exciting parts of STEM. Whether this corresponds to her working in public health, medical research, or neuroscience and healthcare innovation, Alisha is motivated to shape her path in a way that improves the lives of others.
Fun Facts about Alisha
Favorite Food: Can NEVER go wrong with Subway
Favorite part of STEM: It lets you explore the unknown
Favorite Movie/TV show: How I Met Your Mother
Go-to Karaoke song: I Want It That Way- Backstreet Boys
Dogs or cats: Cats duhhh
A Guilty Pleasure: Reading dramatic Reddit threads for fun!
Profile written by Sofia Sejutee.