By joining the Pharmacology & Toxicology Second-Year Learning Community (SLC) you will be surrounded by a small community of second-year students who are learning to navigate their academic and co-curricular pathways to make the most of their experiences as a Pharmacology & Toxicology student. The SLC program is designed to help you make the most out of your degree by engaging in various social, academic and professional development opportunities.
For more information about pharmacology & toxicology, visit the Pharmacology & Toxicology website.
Apply to a Pharmacology & Toxicology SLC
Applications for the 2025-26 academic year will close on August 4, 2025.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Pharmacology & Toxicology SLC you must be a second-year student enrolled in any of the following Pharmacology & Toxicology programs:
- General Major in Pharmacology and Biomedical Toxicology
- Joint Specialist in Pharmacology and Biomedical Toxicology
- Environment & Toxicology Specialist
SLC Course Overview
Students in the Pharmacology & Toxicology SLC will meet bi-weekly for core sessions beginning the week of September 8, 2025, with informal hangouts offered in the alternate weeks.
Two sections will be available during the following times:
- Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m
Your SLC Team
Department: Pharmacology & Toxicology
Title: Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream
Years worked for your current department and/or U of T: Two
Undergraduate major/specialist and institution: Pharmacology, University of Auckland, New Zealand
Hometown: Hong Kong
Why you decided to serve as a faculty advisor: I would like to get to know students better and learn about their priorities and concerns. Students should enjoy their university experience and the best way to do that is to foster a sense of belonging within their academic community.
One piece of advice for a second-year student: Don't be shy to reach out to your network of peers and professors, make use of the resources that are available to you and pick courses that you would enjoy!
Hobby or interest: Eastern poetry and classics.
Department: Pharmacology & Toxicology
Title: Professor, Teaching Stream and Associate Chair, Undergraduate Education.
Years worked for your current department and/or U of T: 17
Undergraduate major/specialist and institution: Life Sciences at Queen’s University
Hometown: St. Albert, Alberta
Why you decided to serve as a faculty advisor: Building community plays a really important role in our department and during your tenure at the University. You may meet peers who become colleagues many years down the line or friends for life. If nothing else, we hope to create an opportunity for you to become more aware of the amazing opportunities within our program and our discipline overall.
One piece of advice for a second-year student: Remember the path to your career, whatever that will be, will not be straight so don't get caught up in the "I must do X, Y or Z." Take opportunities to follow your passion/interests and this will help guide you to your next steps towards your career and life after undergraduate studies.
Hobby or interest: I love downhill skiing and will take any opportunity to spend time in nature.
Department: Pharmacology & Toxicology
Title: Undergraduate Assistant
Years worked for your current department and/or U of T: Three
Undergraduate major/specialist and institution: Social Work, Ryerson University (now TMU)
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Why you decided to serve as a staff advisor: I want to see all our PharmTox students excel in their programs and to achieve their future career goals. SLC is a fantastic opportunity for students to come together and learn from one another. I am honoured to support this amazing community throughout their academic and professional careers, as they change the world.
One piece of advice for a second-year student: Pursue what you’re passionate about and don't be afraid to take a course that scares and challenges you!
Hobby or interest: I love to bake in my downtime!
Department: Pharmacology & Toxicology
Title: Undergraduate Program Officer
Years worked for your current department and/or U of T: Six
Undergraduate major/specialist and institution: Higher Education, OISE
Hometown: Hopewell, NJ
Why you decided to serve as a staff advisor: The most fulfilling part of my role is having the opportunity to work with students, help solve problems, and welcome them into the department. SLC is a wonderful opportunity for our learners and it is my pleasure to be able to help support students through this program!
One piece of advice for a second-year student: Get involved! SLC is tailored to help students through all aspects of their academic experience. It's engaging, fun, and well worth it!
Hobby or interest: When I'm not working, I can be found spending time with my lazy english bulldog, Tigger.
Program: Pharmacology and Biomedical Toxicology Joint Specialist, Business Fundamentals Certificate
Year: Four
College: Innis College
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
An interesting fact: I memorized the periodic table in grade 7 because it was apparently a "trend" in our class.
What do you enjoy most about your studies: When I see how it relates to my everyday life (although whether I actually change my behavior to avoid the supposedly harmful things we learn is questionable...)
Hobby or Interest: Tennis, playing pop songs on the piano, 20th century history.
Program: Pharmacology and Physiology, Certificate of Business Fundamentals (Rotman)
Year: Four
College: New College
Hometown: Calgary, AB
An interesting fact: I play field hockey on the Junior Canadian team and recently returned from a semester abroad in Sydney, Australia! I'm also a part of the U of T Marathon Club, so you're likely to see me out for a run on campus.
What do you enjoy most about your studies: I love learning in depth about how the human body works. This has helped me understand how the drugs we have available to us can be used to help keep us healthy. I'm especially interested in mental health disorders and how we can be most effective in treating them. I've loved all of my upper-year courses, especially those which focused on neurobiology or diabetes.
Hobby or Interest: When I'm not in the library, you can find me on the hockey pitch, out with friends, on a run, or tucked into a good book. I love getting outside, so the ravines in Toronto are a personal favourite of mine, especially during the fall! Outside of my studies, I am interested in exercise physiology and sports nutrition, so anything food or sports-related, please come chat with me!
Program: Pharmacology & Toxicology Specialist
Year: Three
College: University College
Hometown: Singapore
An interesting fact: During my solo travels through places like Costa Rica and various parts of Europe, I started a personal quotes book—asking people from all walks of life to share either a meaningful quote that deeply inspired them or the one piece of advice they’d give to their 20-year-old self. It’s become one of my most treasured travel souvenirs!
What do you enjoy most about your studies: What I enjoy most about my studies is exploring how chemicals interact with the human body—whether it’s understanding how a drug treats disease or how toxins disrupt normal physiology. My studies constantly challenge me to think critically and solve real-world problems.
Hobby or Interest: Sign me up for any adventurous expeditions such as hiking, canoeing, camping! I also like swimming, badminton, finding new recipes to cook up in the kitchen (pun intended haha).
Program: Major in Pharmacology, Major in Neuroscience, Minor in English
Year: Four
College: Victoria College
Hometown: Hong Kong
An interesting fact: I have an extensive collection of Archie Comics! I was obsessed with them in middle school.
What do you enjoy most about your studies: The opportunity to explore a wide range of academic interests and constantly push myself out of my comfort zone. Because of the flexible, DIY nature of U of T's degree system, I can take classes that align with my research interests, as well as those that reflect my personal passions such as literature and digital media. Last year, I had the chance to do Summer Research Abroad course in Germany, where I engaged with different cultures and perspectives, both academically and socially–this was an incredibly valuable experience.
Hobby or Interest: I love to sing! I'm currently part of an a cappella group at U of T, and we sometimes perform gigs on campus and participate in competitions. I also love to read and cafe-hop–my ideal afternoon would be going to a cute cafe with a book and a cup of coffee :)