Jayson Capistrano

Program(s)

Molecular & Cellular Biology and Neuroscience, PhD

Why did you choose to complete your graduate studies in your program at the University of Guelph?

As an undergraduate student, I completed research projects that focused on memory and behavior. This experience led me to the collaborative neuroscience program at Guelph. In 2022, I started as a master's student, but the research, the professors, and the sense of community and collaboration I witnessed first-hand cemented my decision to stay and transfer to my doctoral studies here.

A bit about your path...

I started my research career as an undergraduate student under the guidance of Dr. Thaddeus Carvajal where I worked with mosquito populations native to the Philippines. After moving to Canada with my family, I continued to collaborate with Dr. Carvajal and he prompted me to pursue research opportunities here. Following his guidance, I completed an undergraduate honor's degree at Guelph where I was exposed to neuroscientific research using rodent models and assessed behavior in Dr. Boyer Winters' lab. Shortly after, I started my master's degree at Guelph and eventually transferred to the doctoral program under the mentorship of Dr. Terry Van Raay. Now, as a PhD candidate, I employ many of the techniques I have learned over the years to understand the effects of gut-derived metabolites on neurodevelopment.

A bit about the work you are doing here...

I've always been fascinated by the brain and this interest only intensified when I did my undergraduate research projects at Guelph. I knew that I wanted to pursue research in neuroscience, but wanted to be able to learn many techniques along the way. Luckily, I am able to do that in my PhD work. What I like most about my current research is that I am able to assess the effects of gut-derived metabolites at the genetic, cellular, and behavioral levels. For example, if a treatment induces a change in gene expression, it is expected to manifest as a change at the cellular level and if enough cells are changed, it should ultimately affect behavior. By using zebrafish as an animal model, I can easily assess all of these changes on all levels, allowing me to think more deeply about my results and substantiate my conclusions better. This overall experience makes it more exciting to go to the lab and do the work.

How do you think your research can potentially improve life?

It has been recently found that many neurological issues are often accompanied by gut issues. One aspect that my research is looking into is to determine how these gut-derived metabolites differ between neurotypes (e.g., neurotypical vs. autism) and if these metabolites confer different effects on neurodevelopment. This research highlights the important relationship between the gut and the brain, which could impact how we view, diagnose, and treat neurological issues.

Your academic relationship with your advisor...

The best thing that I appreciate from my advisor is his tactful feedback. He tells me clearly what he expects from me as a student, but he also understands when things do not go as planned. I am not afraid to approach him for advice or tell him if something went wrong, which allows me to feel comfortable to learn and make mistakes. More importantly, he gives me the freedom to explore other avenues of research. If I wanted to try something to address my hypothesis, I can simply tell him and we can discuss it. As a researcher in training, this hones my critical thinking and research skills. It also gives me a sense of independence and pride because I feel that my opinions and thoughts are being heard and valued. My advisor also knows that there is life outside of the lab and allows me to pursue endeavors in other fields (leadership, mentorship) as well as attend conferences, which makes my overall experience in graduate school much more meaningful.

What it is like to be a graduate student at Guelph?

I like to describe being a graduate student at Guelph as going to work with people you actually like, so it's great! The sense of community and collaboration within my home department is palpable and everyone is always ready to help. I've developed many friendships with both professors and graduate students alike. And because I'm always on campus, I've also developed friendships with various staff members (course coordinators, technicians, housekeeping staff, coffee shop employees, etc.). It is also very exciting to see students you've TA'd become a part of your home department and to be able to help them ease into their transition from undergraduate student to graduate student is very fulfilling.

What do you plan to do after graduation and how has U of G helped you reach that goal?

At the time of writing this, I am considering a post-doctoral fellowship to further study the relationship between the gut and the brain. Through my advisor and the collaborative neuroscience program at Guelph, I was able to go to many conferences and learn about opportunities in both academia and industry that I would not have known otherwise. On the same note, I was also able to meet many professors, post-docs, and graduate students in relevant fields which ultimately expanded my network.

Advice for someone who would like to follow in your footsteps...

Graduate school is often believed to be difficult and exhausting, and from my experience, that is often the case. How I circumvent these feelings is through finding the joy in the work and being excited for the results, whatever they may be. For me, compiling and analyzing the data I have gathered make the tough days in the lab worth it.

Tell us something about you, beyond being a grad student.

In 2015, I obtained an undergraduate degree from the Philippines prior to moving to Canada with my family. Because of this move, I suffered from financial insecurities. I was fortunate enough to secure a job in clinical trials as a project manager and was able to save to go back to school and pursue research. In 2021, I finally completed my undergraduate honor's degree and shortly after, began my graduate studies both at Guelph. I resigned from my full-time job in 2023 because I wanted to completely focus on my graduate studies. Now, as a PhD candidate, I am able to be more involved in my work and pursue other endeavors within the field. For instance, I have mentored many undergraduate students either through research project courses or university-led initiatives (e.g., CoBUMP). I have attended and presented my research work at several conferences and symposia and am now working on my first first-author publication. Outside of the lab, I serve one of the three co-presidents of our department's graduate student council, advocating for departmental networking and graduate students. I have also helped organize numerous university-wide conferences and events (annual Graduate Student Symposium, Guelph Neuroscience Day, Brain Bee Guelph, Fall Preview Day, Science and Engineering Day, etc.). These opportunities have allowed me to hone many soft skills that I would not have been able to, if I continued working full-time.

What do you like best about U of G campus?

The best thing about the campus is the food; I like that there's always a variety of choices for the students! The ingredients are also often locally sourced! And of course, the people on campus! All the professors, staff, and my fellow graduate students are all very nice!

What you like about living in the City of Guelph?

I like that Guelph has both rural- and urban-like areas. Sometimes I like to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, so I go to the Arboretum, and sometimes I like going to coffee shops to do school work. At Guelph, I get both options which makes it ideal.