Martyna Lagoda
Research Scientist in the University of Saskatchewan (Canada)
Name: | Martyna Lagoda |
What year did you leave the Marist? | 2012 |
What are your favourite memories of the Marist? | I have so many good memories of the Marist! Lunchtime in the study hall with all of my friends in the old school building.
Marist got talent Christmas show. Starts in yer eyes. 6th year Religion The Ceili Mor Any practical Biology (Ms Murphy) and Chemistry (Mr Lyons) classes. All the teachers! Getting my yearbook signed at the end of each year. |
Were you a boarder/day pupil? | Day pupil |
What subjects from school are/were most helpful to you? | Biology and Chemistry, but also History and German. |
Were you part of any club or team while in school? Memories of this? | No, but I wish I took the time to get more involved. |
Are you in contact with any of your class? | Yes, a number of them. |
What has your career path been since you left the Marist? | Ever since leaving the Marist, I have been developing my career in the area of animal welfare science, which involved completing university level education in that direction, as well as volunteering and working closely with animals in settings such as rescue shelters, laboratories keeping stocks of research animals, animal feed development laboratories, and farms where I carried out research in livestock welfare. |
If you attended College –what college/s did you attend? | B.A – Trinity College, Dublin
M.Sc – Queen’s University, Belfast Ph.D – Teagasc, Moorepark & Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences |
What course/s did you study? | I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Science, specialising in Zoology, then moved on to a Master’s degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, and finally completed a PhD in Swine Welfare and Behaviour |
What did the course/s involve – subjects/assessment etc? | Each of the degrees I completed were heavily science-based, and therefore they all included courses in biology, chemistry, statistical analysis methods, and mathematics, all of which were assessed in the form of exams, continuous, and practical assessments. Being animal related, these degrees also included many practical and experimental components in animal physiology, anatomy, behaviour, health, and welfare. Specifically, my B.A in Science (Zoology) covered a very wide range of subjects, from animal diversity and ecology, to environmental science, making for a very comprehensive course in animal science. |
Is/was there a lot of study to do? | Yes, at every stage. |
Can you tell us about what your current job involves? | I am now a research scientist working at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, continuing to research pig welfare, with the aim of developing practical methods of welfare improvements which can be easily applied in real-life farm scenarios, all while taking into account the natural behaviour needs and motivations of the animals. My job allows me to combine my love of animals with my passion for raising awareness of the importance of animal welfare, with the ultimate goal of ensuring an improved quality of life for the animals in our care. |
What advice would you give to our current Marist students | Don’t be afraid to take some time to figure out your passion, and once you do, work hard to give it your best. Enjoy the process, and remember that it is indeed a process, so go at your own pace, because it doesn’t happen overnight. Be kind to others every step of the way. |