Graduate Q&A: Niklas Hayden

Niklas Hayden, master of science graduate and Dean's Gold Medal award recipient.

What drew you to this area of study?

In 2022, I graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a BSc in neuroscience and a minor in population health. I pursued a minor in population health because I had a growing interest in the impact of disease at a population scale. I worked as a summer research assistant in a social epidemiology lab during this time, which further fostered my interest in population health, and I decided that I wanted to pursue environmental and infectious disease epidemiology.

What achievement, accomplishment or moment are you most proud of from your time in the program?

The moment I am most proud of was when I successfully completed my thesis defense and I was told I was nominated for the Dean's Gold Medal award. I was so excited to have been nominated, and proud of the research I had presented. I later received the Dean's Gold Medal award, which I am beyond proud of.

The University of Alberta has amazing students and I was a part of an exceptional cohort. I am very proud of all that I achieved at the U of A, and I am honoured to have been given this award and to be recognized among such brilliant peers.

How did you stay motivated when things got tough?

The best way I found to stay motivated was through routine and scheduling. Keeping a consistent schedule meant that I was always on top of my school work. It also meant that I could relax when I took time off because I had it scheduled as part of my plan. When things got tough, it was nice to have my schedule to calm my anxieties and keep me motivated.

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

I would encourage students considering epidemiology to be curious! There is so much to learn, so many questions to be answered and so many ways to look at problems. Curiosity is an epidemiologist's best friend!

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

I am currently working on my PhD in epidemiology at the University at Buffalo, where I seek to continue my graduate-level training in epidemiology and biostatistics. I am continuing to work with my MSc supervisor, Dr. Shelby Yamamoto, as a part of the University at Buffalo's Center for Climate Change and Health Equity.