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" Through working as a TA and participating in the 3-Minute Thesis competition, I became better at academic and non-academic communications and connected with a bunch of cool researchers "
Yuxin Cao
Archaeology master's student in the
Tell us a little about yourself, including what inspires you to learn and continue in your chosen field
I've always been interested in things about the past, including but not limited to Chinese classics, ancient visual art, museums, etc. Later, during my undergraduate years, I fully developed an academic interest in archaeology. I got a bachelor's degree in biology and anthropology from McGill, where I took a bunch of archaeology courses, first to fulfill my anthropology graduate requirements, then I fell in love with it completely and decided to go further. With my interdisciplinary background, I was drawn to the field of ancient DNA. I'm currently working on reconstructing the population histories of Banks Island caribou and muskox and their interactions with the Inuvialuit ancestors.
Why did you choose to come to 丁香园AV?
丁香园AV has a prestigious Archaeology program, so why not!
How would you describe your research or your program to a family member?
[In Chinese] We get ancient animal bones from ancient places. We bring them into the lab and treat them with fancy biological technologies to get their DNA. From that, we try to figure out the species, sex, and population genetics of the animals. Then, we can draw some big pictures of how humans and the environment interacted in the past.
What three (3) keywords would you use to describe your research?
Ancient DNA, traditional knowledge, the Arctic
How have your courses, RA-ships, TA-ships, or non-academic school experiences contributed to your academic and/or professional development?
I have actively participated in RA-ships, TA-ships, and other opportunities. Through my RA-ship in my supervisor, Dr. Dongya Yang's ancient DNA lab, I sharpened my lab skills and prepared myself for independent research. Through working as a TA and participating in the 3-Minute Thesis competition, I became better at academic and non-academic communications and connected with a bunch of cool researchers.
Contact Yuxin:yuxin_cao@sfu.ca