Patricia Lukus, MSc
Clinical Research Coordinator
Patricia completed her MSc at the University of Guelph in 2018 where she assessed the postprandial glycemic response of lentil containing food products as potential dietary interventions in the management of Type 2 Diabetes. She is currently a Clinical Research Coordinator with a focus on mental health research.
*The views and opinions expressed in this profile are those of the professional and do not necessarily reflect the official policies of their employer.
How did your experience in grad school influence your decision to pursue this career?
My MSc experience was instrumental for cultivating my interest in clinical research. I really enjoyed the social aspects that are prevalent in clinical trials such as participant recruitment, leading participants through study visits, and organizing schedules.
I set out to find roles that encapsulated these experiences and I have found that I’m able to leverage skills that I developed in grad school, even though the main focus of my role isn’t in nutrition.
Leading studies in my current role is very similar to what I was doing in grad school as I’m using the same skills, techniques, and terminology. My role is a little different from the one I had in grad school as trials are larger, usually taking place over multiple sites in Canada and involving more participants.
Also, with student research, you’re often leveraging lab processes that past grad students have been iterated upon throughout time. In a hospital setting, there’s a unique design for each study that is taking place.
What advice would you give to students looking to pursue roles in your industry?
Don’t be afraid to apply for different positions even if you don’t have the qualifications. Employers are typically willing to let you grow when transitioning into a role.
Furthermore, the key is to present your resume in a manner that a hiring manager can digest by providing specific examples of how you’ve leveraged transferable skills. Something else that I found helpful was talking to my past instructors and academic advisors.
This is because they’ve been involved with recruiting students and they have great insight on what to include or avoid both in a resume and in an interview setting.
‘Talk to your previous academic advisors for interview advice. At first glance, it might not seem obvious but they’ve done lots of hiring before and they have a unique perspective to share.’
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What is the biggest challenge and reward that comes with your role?
My role is rewarding because I’m helping people. I’m guiding participants through studies and developing relationships with patients. Furthermore, it’s very satisfying to help patients receive the help they need.
I also feel a strong sense of purpose because I’m directly contributing to new knowledge. I’m hopeful that our trials will have a direct influence on future healthcare decisions and policies.
On another note, I recently enrolled in a nursing program to advance my career so there is a lot being juggled between my employee and student roles.
How has COVID-19 impacted your work?
There have been restrictions on the amount of people entering hospitals since March which has slowed down our recruitment dramatically. Unfortunately, this has impacted our budgets as well as the amount of students and staff being brought onto research positions.
We have been working from home, where we’ve had an opportunity to analyze data and write manuscripts more intensively as this doesn’t require participant visits.
Once hospital restrictions are relaxed, our intention is to ramp up study recruitment to make up for the time we’ve lost. As a result, we’re preparing all aspects of our protocols to ensure that we can manage this influx as efficiently as possible.
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