A conversation with Dr. Toni-Lee Sterley, on achieving goals with life balance intact

September 28, 2020

By Holly Kerr, Hotchkiss Brain Institute

Dr. Toni-Lee Sterley, PhD, was recently awarded a prestigious SFARI 2020 Bridge to Independence Award by the Simons Foundation Autism Research. This award is part of SFARI’s mission to improve the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders by funding innovative research of the highest quality and relevance. It is specifically aimed at supporting the next generation of top autism researchers by facilitating their transition to independent researchers at a Canadian or U.S. research institute. This year SFARI awarded only three BTI fellowships across Canada and the U.S.

Dr. Sterley is currently a postdoctoral associate in the Bains Lab (Hotchkiss Brain Institute / Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education) at UCalgary’s Cumming School of Medicine. She is also a UCalgary Eyes High Postdoctoral Fellow.

Her current research is focused on social interactions and the communication of stressed states. She plans to further these investigations in mouse models of autism when she establishes her own independent research program.

Q: Tell me about your educational path. How did you arrive at where you are today?

TLS: I completed a BSc in 2008, majoring in mathematics and physiology with additional courses in psychology, at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Initially I thought I might become a mathematician. Then I realized how interested I was in the neuroscience aspects of my undergraduate courses, so I completed a Bachelor of Science Medical Honours degree in 2009 with a specialization in neuroscience. I then started a master’s program in 2010 which I upgraded to a PhD program in 2011. I completed my PhD three years later, and then moved to Calgary almost immediately in 2014.

There is a strong culture of exposing undergraduate students to research here at UCalgary, but this wasn’t very common when I was an undergraduate student, so research was somewhat new to me when I started my postgraduate studies.

Q: What first sparked your interest or inspired you to study neuroscience?

TLS: My mom tells me that as a very young child I was curious about how the brain works. I recall in primary school I wanted to do well, so I read a lot and learned about how the brain remembers and stores information and tried to apply this to my studies. I think that was how I first became interested.

Then when I attended university, I didn’t have a clear idea of what career path I wanted to follow, so I took courses in subjects that I enjoyed: mathematics and biology, then physiology, psychology and neurosciences.

Q: How did receiving the UCalgary Eyes High Postdoctoral fellowship in 2014 impact you?

TLS: It has meant a great deal to me. It provided the financial security that allowed me to come to Calgary and pursue my postdoctoral program. It also gave me an important boost in confidence, because it indicated to me that UCalgary recognized I had something valuable to contribute. It also helped me feel part of the UCalgary community from the moment I arrived in Calgary.

Q: What does being awarded the SFARI 2020 Bridge to Independence Award mean to you?

TLS: Receiving this award was a huge surprise. I applied soon after my son was born and found myself writing my application at all hours of the night in between feedings and sleep! So I was quite surprised to learn I was successful.

This award should increase my chances of obtaining a tenure track position to start my own research program, allowing me to get to work on the research questions I posed in my application which I feel so strongly about. This award also means I’m now a SFARI Fellow and part of the SFARI community of Fellows who support each other through mentorship and other programs. It’s a real honour.

Q: What challenges, if any, have you faced along the way?

TLS: I experienced ‘imposter syndrome’ like so many in academia do, especially by moving to Canada from South Africa. Coming from a very small research lab, I worried I might not have much to contribute. Also, moving to a new country and leaving all my support systems behind was really challenging.

Then, when I joined the Bains lab here at UCalgary, I was unfamiliar with the techniques that would be required for my postdoctoral studies. For the first few months, I was just a sponge, soaking up and learning as much as I could.

Q: How do you stay grounded through high stress?

TLS: This is an ongoing challenge for me. Having supportive people in my life throughout my years of study has been very important. Taking time away from whatever is stressing me – like taking our dog for a walk – helps me feel grounded. Also, getting involved in extracurricular activities helps to provide balance. During graduate school I became involved in kick boxing and rock climbing, and I still really enjoy these outlets. Now, some of my favourite activities are simply spending time with my son, my husband and our dog, walking, and hiking and enjoying the outdoors. I’ve also recently made a batch of wine – a new hobby for me!

Q: Do you have any advice for neuroscience trainees just getting started?

TLS: I am so impressed with each of the graduate students I meet here at UCalgary. They are very involved in research, publishing and volunteering, and with so much on their plates, there is a lot of pressure on them. My advice would be to seek out environments that are supportive of your work, and if not available, then seek out a mentor – one who supports your ideas.

Also, don’t think you must do everything on your own. Graduate school is a very competitive environment, but don’t lose sight of the importance of collaborating with others. Lean on the senior researchers in your lab for support; you can still offer your own ideas but don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Q: What would be your top tip for balancing the demands of life while working through your PhD program?

TLS: I don’t always get it right! I think everyone is continually striving for that work/life balance. There are sometimes periods when I’m working at more than full capacity, to meet a deadline for example, but then other periods, possibly more frequent, when I’m working less than I should be. I think the key is to accept that it will come in waves, to be mindful of this and make an effort to take breaks when you can. Of course, everyone should strive to find a rhythm that works best for them. Having a toddler at home now also forces me to take breaks from work since it’s impossible to work when he’s around, so this has been helpful as well.

Q: What has been the proudest moment of your educational career so far?

TLS: I have several proud moments in my academic career, and each has built upon the other. But if I had to choose one, it would be obtaining my PhD. I am the first in my family to achieve this, so it was a proud moment for me and for my family when I graduated. My parents were even more excited than I was which made it feel incredibly special.

Q: Tell me about the people, teachers and/or mentors who made an impact on you or set you on your path.

TLS: There have been so many. My high school math teacher offered me extra math lessons even though I was doing well in her class, showing me that no matter how accomplished you are at something, you can always learn more and keep improving. Also my high school biology teacher introduced me to research, and her encouragement helped me realize how much I love being immersed in research. She also encouraged me to pursue a PhD.

Dr. Vivienne Russell and Dr. Fleur Howells were my supervisors throughout my graduate school training. They were my mentors when I was first introduced to research and played an important role in fostering my excitement and creativity in science.

Also, the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) helped chart my course. They run international neuroscience schools. During my graduate studies I attended the IBRO Canadian neuroscience school in Ottawa, in 2010. Attending this international school allowed me to interact with faculty from all over the globe and opened my eyes to the international neuroscience community.

At the IBRO school I met Dr. Ellis Cooper, a professor at McGill, who nominated me for a Canadian commonwealth scholarship, allowing me to spend six months in his lab at McGill in 2012 during my PhD. This experience revealed opportunities offered by working in a Canadian lab. In more recent years I have travelled back to South Africa to teach at IBRO schools there, and even organized a school in Cape Town in 2017. In the future I hope to continue such outreach activities since I have experienced first-hand the benefits of these programs. 

My current supervisor, Dr. Jaideep Bains, has been hugely influential as a mentor. I emailed him out of the blue asking him if he had any postdoctoral positions available. He was very responsive and took a risk, I think, by welcoming me into his lab, even though I didn’t have all the necessary knowledge nor was I familiar with the techniques required for his lab. I became that sponge that I mentioned, and I think my enthusiasm helped my case.

And finally my parents made it possible for me to attend university and were always my greatest supporters and advisors. They, in fact, also encouraged me to take science in high school when I was feeling a bit torn having to choose between science and drama. My life might have been very different had it not been for that advice!

Q: If you could achieve one thing – leave one mark – what would it be?

TLS: As a basic neuroscience researcher, I hope my work leads to a better understanding of the neural circuitry and mechanisms underlying behaviours and symptoms, which can then be used as grounds for developing therapeutic interventions to alleviate the symptoms of disorders and improve quality of life.

I hope to specifically make a mark in Autism Spectrum Disorder research by discovering the neural basis for communicating and detecting emotions.

Q: What are your plans for your future career and/or ultimate goal?

TLS: To run a successful research program at an institution; to conduct quality science and contribute basic knowledge to the scientific community that can be used to develop therapies. Ultimately, the success of my program will rely on the success and satisfaction of my research team – the researchers and trainees. A major goal of mine is to create an environment where individual successes are fostered and nurtured. I’ve been incredibly lucky to be part of environments like this in the Bains lab and in my PhD lab, and I see the long-term benefits it creates.

Initially, I had no idea that research could be a career path – that the textbooks don’t always have all the answers, and that ongoing research is important for many areas of discovery.