Jun 5 2026, 9:30am – 3:00pm
In-person at Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, 818 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver
Intended Audience
Trainees from the VCH and UBC research community

Join the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) Trainee Committee for a full day of interactive, career-focused programming designed to strengthen your professional skills and support your next steps with confidence. 

The event program will consist of two parts: the morning session will focus on practical career development through two interactive workshops on LinkedIn and Resume optimization as well as offer negotiation and interview preparation; the afternoon session will feature a panel discussion and networking opportunities. Participants will also have time to visit information and career booths hosted by VCHRI research labs and other organizations. See full program for details. 

Event highlights 
  • Resume and LinkedIn writing and salary negotiation workshops
  • Hands-on resume review and feedback
  • Panel conversations and networking opportunities with professionals from diverse career paths
  • Information booths featuring VCHRI labs, the University of British Columbia (UBC) Career Centre, Clinical Trials British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Talent Acquisition
About the speakers
Kenzie Arnott is a manager of Science in the City, an international science communication program at STEMCELL Technologies. Kenzie is a multidisciplinary scientist and science communicator with a strong foundation in plant biology, biotechnology and research-driven problem solving. Kenzie has built a career at the intersection of fundamental science, applied research and community engagement.
Rebecca Dirnfeld is a career educator at UBC supporting graduate students. She holds a Career and Work Counselling Diploma and is completing a master's degree in educational studies at UBC, with prior experience at Toronto Metropolitan University and Simon Fraser University. 
Dr. Brett Hilton is an assistant professor in the Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences at UBC. He is a principal investigator at the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries and a member of the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health. His laboratory at UBC focuses on identifying and targeting the cellular and molecular mechanisms that limit regeneration and functional recovery following spinal cord injury. 
Kim Kiloh is the head of team development at Aspect Biosystems. She holds a Master of Education in educational leadership from SFU and a Bachelor of Science in biology from UBC. Kim has held leadership roles at UBC and previously served as head of learning and development at AbCellera. In her current role, she leads talent discovery and learning and development initiatives, supporting individuals and teams to grow and perform effectively.
Alicia Murdoch is a certified clinical research professional who started her career as a clinical research coordinator in HIV and arthritis trials. She has worked in various roles such as coordinator, REB administrator and provincial engagement coordinator for CANTRAIN. She currently works as a program engagement manager at Clinical Trials British Columbia, where she supports education and engagement in clinical trials in B.C.
Martin St. Jean is the principal advisor, regional mental health and substance use, health analytics at VCH. He brings extensive expertise in epidemiology and a strong network of collaborative partnerships to his role, leading initiatives that support and strengthen mental health and substance use services at the regional, provincial and national levels.

 

VCHRI Trainee Career Day Program.pdf