Students

Convocation ‘25: Emily Liu, BSc Specialization in Pharmacology

Donna McKinnon - 6 June 2025

 

Initially enrolled in biochemistry at the University of Alberta, Emily Liu’s academic focus soon shifted to pharmacology, primarily due to its immediate and tangible relevance to everyday life and to the healthcare industry. As an aspiring physician, it would also provide the ideal academic foundation.   

While the program was rigorous, it was not Emily’s sole focus. A gifted pianist, she joined a number of musical organizations on campus, including the MusicBox Children’s Charity and Heart of the City Music Program, serving in various leadership roles in addition to performance. These volunteer positions, which included work with the Zebra Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, were also an avenue for outreach — aligning with her commitment to community well-being both as a professional in the medical field and as a compassionate individual. 

In May, Emily was recognized with the Gold Medal in Science, awarded annually to the graduating student from the Specialization program in the Faculty of Science who has shown the highest distinction in scholarship. 

Congratulations Emily!


What program are you graduating from?

Bachelor of Science Specialization in Pharmacology.

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

I originally started as a biochemistry major here at University of Alberta but was drawn to pharmacology because of how applicable I found my classes to be in my everyday life and in the healthcare industry. While it was challenging at times, I felt that the program would be an excellent stepping stone for any career in a healthcare related field (whether research or clinically-oriented). I also chose U of A because of its excellent research, and it was close to home.

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

I love trivia competitions, so winning one of the Interdepartmental Science Students’ Society (ISSS) trivia tournaments was definitely a highlight for me! Walking back home to east campus carrying a huge Samsung monitor afterwards was a lot of fun.

I will cherish all the wonderful people and friends I’ve made for the rest of my life. I’m so grateful to everyone who has supported me and made my time at U of A so wonderful over the past four years.

Tell us about your favourite professor and/or class.

I worked under Spencer Gibson in the Department of Oncology as a research student for two summers and loved my experience. I was able to gain a strong understanding of translational research — the process of converting findings in basic science to real world applications for the benefit of patients (as an example). I felt like I was able to develop a lot of confidence as a scientific communicator and I received excellent mentorship opportunities by experts in the field (shoutout to Karina)!

I also really enjoyed PMCOL 200 (Drugs - An Introduction to Pharmacology) taught by Harley Kurata and Anna Taylor. It’s an excellent introductory class that gives a great overview about what the study of pharmacology is all about.

Did you take on any leadership roles while you were a student?

Piano has been one of my lifelong passions and there’s a lot of campus organizations involved with music. I served as a co-president of MusicBox Children’s Charity for 2024-2025, which is an organization that offers music lessons to children facing social or economic marginalization. I loved that I was able to meet other students from a wide range of backgrounds that I would not normally interact with in my classes. Teaching little kids music was also super adorable!

I was also involved with Heart of the City Music Program as a social media and sponsorship coordinator. I learned a lot about community engagement while supporting our annual Heart and Soul concert, a benefit performance featuring volunteer music performers! It was amazing to see so many individuals coming together to support universal access to music education.

What advice do you have for current and future students?

Aside from getting involved with clubs, I’d highly recommend engaging with off campus community organizations as well! Some of my most fulfilling experiences have come from working with the Zebra Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, which is an amazing organization that supports children and families affected by child abuse.

How do you plan on celebrating convocation?

I plan on traveling the world as much as I can for the next few months — I’m currently writing this while on the subway in Tokyo! I also plan on spending as much time as I can with my family (and my wiener dog named Penny) in Red Deer before starting school again in the fall. 

What's next after graduation?

I’m super excited to start medical school at the U of A in the fall and fulfilling my dream of becoming a physician!

Emily joins fellow medal recipients Chenoa Kaufman (Governor General's Silver Medal and the Lieutenant-Governor's Gold Medal in Science), Rachael Chew (Dean’s Gold Medal in Science) and Adrien Lam (Chancellor’s Leadership Medal).