Vivien Trinh

Hello everyone! My name is Vivien (she/her), and I am going into my fourth year of the Biomedical Discovery & Commercialization program at McMaster University. I am originally from Mississauga, ON, but I spend most of the year in Hamilton, ON, where I attend university. 

Outside of research, I am highly involved in my university community, from supporting incoming first-year students to promoting health advocacy and food security. I enjoy spending time with friends, travelling and/or trying out the newest foodie spots and art collections in the city!

Early in my research career, I have found myself drawn to the field of toxicology, while researching under Dr. Peter G. Wells on the in utero exposure of ethanol during pregnancy in the fetal development of BRCA1-deficient mice. Currently, my growing research interests involve mechanisms related to pregnancy, fetal development, and toxicology. 

This summer, I will be working in Dr. Reina Bendayan’s lab, exploring the impacts of antiretroviral therapies and alcohol in the context of HIV infection. Since exploring HIV-1 inhibitors in my second-year inquiry course, I was compelled by the work in the Bendayan lab. My project will investigate the neurotoxicity and blood-brain barrier permeability of antiretroviral therapies in the mouse. 

I am excited to carry what I learn this summer into my thesis next year and incorporate this experience into my career. The chance to learn from an experienced mentor in the field – especially a female mentor – is something that I continually sought out as I grow to gain confidence as a future leader in medical research. With the unmatched experience provided by the Amgen Scholars Program, I look forward to embarking on this new research endeavour.