Joanne Patry

Background

About Joanne Patry

Curious, driven, and people-focused, I’m passionate about exploring how neuroscience deepens our understanding of the human experience. My love of books nurtures this passion, as they allow me to see life through someone else’s lens. Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi, in particular, inspired me to delve into this growing field, connecting the search for understanding in literature with the scientific pursuit of discovery. “The truth is we don’t know what we don’t know. We don’t even know the questions we need to ask in order to find out, but when we learn one tiny little thing, a dim light comes on in a dark hallway, and suddenly a new question appears. We spend decades, centuries, millennia, trying to answer that one question so that another dim light will come on. That’s science, but that’s also everything else, isn’t it? Try. Experiment. Ask a ton of questions.” Yaa Gyasi As a Third-year Honours student in Neuroscience and Mental Health at Carleton University, I integrate academic learning with hands-on experience in leadership, safety, and inclusive advocacy. Leadership & Safety: For two years as Head Guard at Calypso, I managed emergency responses, safety protocols, and team coordination, honing my communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills under pressure. Advocacy & Training: As Training Lead for Stigma Ends At CU, I developed workshops, scheduled guest speakers, and led efforts to reduce stigma around substance use disorders and behavioral addictions. With a decade of competitive swimming, bilingual fluency (French and English), and extensive volunteer work in inclusive spaces, I’ve cultivated resilience, adaptability, and the ability to connect with diverse stakeholders. I’m eager to apply these interdisciplinary skills and my commitment to science in a neuroscience co-op, contributing meaningfully to innovative research or helping individuals while growing as a future neuroscientist.