Convocation Spotlight: Ala’ Yousef

Graduating with her PhD from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ala' Yousef shares her journey from a community pharmacist in Jordan to a researcher at the University of Alberta. Driven by curiosity about how aging affects cardiac health, her PhD explored protective mechanisms in the heart, laying the groundwork for future age-related disease research.

Now Ala' as she begins a postdoctoral fellowship investigating aging and multiple sclerosis, she reflects on the community she found at the U of A and shares her advice for future PhD students.

What drew you to this area of study?

My journey started back home in Jordan. I earned my PharmD degree and began working as a community pharmacist. After some time, I realized I wanted to do more, to contribute to science and educate people, so I completed my MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences and later started looking into PhD programs. 

After meeting Dr. John Seubert and reading about his research, I was really fascinated with the project proposal and I felt excitement. My thesis project aimed to understand how age and sex influence cardiac health, with a specific focus on the protective effect of inhibiting an enzyme called soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). I was curious to know how aging reshapes the cellular function of the heart and increases its vulnerability to diseases. I knew that achieving the goals of this project could lay the foundation for exploring key cellular pathways to help reduce the adverse effects of aging, which ultimately affects us all.

What moment are you most proud of from your time in the program?

Coming from a clinical background, my PhD was the first time I was exposed to wet lab and basic science experiments. In the beginning, I felt overwhelmed and a bit lost, but I started shadowing and learning from senior lab members. The first two years were challenging and demanding. I felt so proud and happy when I finished all five required courses with excellent grades, made strong progress in my research and published my first paper.

After that, I became the senior in the lab and started teaching junior lab members, which made me feel very confident. I truly believe that the lab environment plays a crucial role in anyone’s PhD journey, and I was lucky to be part of a very supportive and collaborative team.

How did you stay motivated when things got tough?

Doing the PhD was not the easiest thing. It has its own challenges, but it was absolutely worth it! I don’t think I would have grown as much as a researcher, or as a person, without going through this experience. Some experiments are like black and white, with results that are clear and obvious. Others fall into a grey area requiring exploration — that’s when research gets tough and challenging. However, I learned that research is not just about clear results; it is about the process of inquiry, even when answers are uncertain. It took me a while to understand this and shape my personality as a motivated researcher.

What were your go-to spots on campus? 

My favorite spots on campus were the food courts at ECHA, SUB, HUB, CCCS and even the hospital cafeteria. I loved exploring new options with my friends; these were definitely the places I enjoyed the most!

What did you learn about yourself during your time at the U of A?

Coming to the University of Alberta as an international student was an amazing experience. Being surrounded by so many multinational students gave me the chance to meet and connect with people from all over the world. I served as vice president and social executive in the Pharmacy Graduate Student Association (PGSA). I enjoyed connecting with students, helping them and organizing social activities together. It was incredibly rewarding.

What advice would you give to a student considering your area of study?

A PhD is not an easy path and comes with many challenges. Time management, staying calm and having patience is the best advice I can give.

What's next for you in your career and/or academic journey? What do you hope to accomplish?

During my PhD, I had the opportunity to mentor undergrad and high school students, and some of my best moments were watching them grow and seeing them confidently present our work in their seminars. These experiences reinforced my desire to become a successful educator, someone who can transfer knowledge to others and inspire them to discover new insights. 

In the future, I would like to be an independent researcher with my own lab focusing on the association of molecular markers of aging and clinical observations in older patients. I recently began my postdoctoral fellowship at the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, where I plan to challenge myself and investigate how aging impacts other diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). My goal is to determine whether biological aging is associated with MS progression, using both clinical and molecular data.