Convocation ‘24: Brian Cheuk-Yue Kong, BSc General, Biological Sciences, Dean’s Gold Medal in Science

Brian Cheuk-Yue Kong, BSc General, Biological Sciences, Dean’s Gold Medal in Science

“It’s cool being taught about notable research conducted and published by the professors teaching the course!”

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As a high school student, Brian Kong knew that his path would eventually lead to biological sciences. His early interest in biology classes was an indication that this diverse area of study would hold his interest and fuel a life-long passion.   

Not only did this early indication prove to be true, Brian’s dedication and hard work was recognized this spring with the Dean's Gold Medal in Science, awarded to the convocating student from the general program in the Faculty of Science who has shown the highest distinction in scholarship.

Brian’s advice for undergraduate students is to explore a variety of classes and make room for the discovery of new interests. Encountering a love for immunology late in his program, he cannot recommend this field of study enough, crediting his unique opportunity to work as a student researcher in the Phan Lab under Anna Phan as one of his best experiences.

“It was invaluable in exposing me to the research of others, and also in building up the confidence to present my own research.”

With plans to pursue a medical degree in his future, Brian’s other piece of advice for incoming students is to eat more Pho — and watch out for the geese!

Congratulations Brian!

What program are you graduating from?

Bachelor of Science, General Sciences, Biological Sciences.

What led you to choose your current area of study, and why the U of A for your studies?

I chose my current area of study because in high school, I remember being fascinated by biology above any other class. My original reasoning was that biology was the class that made time go by the fastest, so I took that as my calling to pursue a bachelor of science at the University of Alberta.  

I was excited to go to the U of A for my studies because I had heard great things from my family who have had a long history with the university. My mom originally graduated as a pharmacist, and my brother followed her by graduating as a software engineer. After my brother took me on a tour of the campus and the amazing facilities, I was fully convinced I wanted to go here and I haven’t looked back since!

Tell us about your experience in your faculty.

My experience in the Faculty of Science has been wonderful, in large part due to the support and resources that are available to me. As someone who had been interested in research since high school, I was very fortunate to be accepted as an undergraduate research student by Anna Phan. The Phan Lab has provided so many amazing opportunities that have contributed to my growth as a student, and I have learned so much from the team’s guidance.

For example, the graduate student overseeing my work, Illia Pimenov, helped guide me to my first poster presentation at the R.E. Peter Biology Conference (which I highly recommend to any undergraduate pursuing research). It was an exciting experience building up the confidence to present my research to others, as well as being exposed to the research of others.

What is one of your favourite memories from your time at U of A?

My favourite memories are from my second year, when we started having classes in person. I was finally able to take in-person classes with my friends, and it was so fun to physically be on campus and do things together. We would pick between going to Dewey’s, riding scooters around campus or getting chased by the resident geese for no reason. Overall, it was a blast after an entire year of online learning due to COVID-19!

Tell us about your favourite professor and/or class.

My favorite class was IMIN 452 (Advanced Immunology), taught by the combination of Kevin Kane, Troy Baldwin and Hanne Ostergaard. The reason I liked this class so much was that it was a totally new style of teaching and testing, where we explored important discoveries within the field of immunology that have contributed to our understanding of the immune system today. Plus, it was really cool being taught about notable research conducted and published by the professors teaching the course!

What advice do you have for current and future students?

Don't be afraid to explore what you like! One of the mistakes I made was not exploring different courses as much as I could have, and I didn’t realize I liked immunology so much until late in my degree. In addition, don’t hesitate to reach out to your professors and TAs for help, whether that’s explaining concepts or just answering questions. They ultimately want you to succeed in their class, and the help you receive during office hours can be extremely valuable during exams. Lastly, enjoy your time at the U of A — we have excellent facilities and a supportive community, and trust me, time will fly (except during finals season).

How do you plan on celebrating convocation?

I plan on celebrating convocation by hanging out with my family and friends who have supported me the whole way, eating Pho, and eating some more Pho. I’ll also catch up on sleep, and maybe watch an entire Netflix series in one day.

What's next after graduation?

I would love to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor, which has been a goal of mine since high school. In the meantime, I plan on taking a course that will allow me to work and gain experience within a healthcare environment. I’ll also continue running and volunteering for various organizations like Delton Student Learning, where we provide mentorship and tutoring to students at Delton Elementary. Although I’ll miss the U of A after graduation, I’m ultimately looking forward to the opportunity to be more involved in my commitments and to kickstart some projects that I think will help better our community!

Brian joins fellow medal recipients Matthew David Harrison (Lieutenant-Governor's Gold Medal in Science) and Kai Sven Luedemann (Gold Medal in Science).