Shilo Chislett is a master’s student in the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry. This spring she travelled to her hometown of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, to speak with students at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik about STEM and higher education, as part of the NSERC Indigenous Student Ambassadors program.
She completed double majors in molecular genetics and microbiology and immunology at U of T, with a certificate in sustainability, then joined the BioZone lab. She says she found her footing through mentorship and research, and that she was honest with students about how hard her own transition was.
Chislett told students about research in the North, including the Canada-Inuit Nunangat-United Kingdom Arctic Research Programme. She expects to graduate from the master of engineering program in October.
Reported from U of T grad student returns home to inspire Nunavut youth in STEM (U of T News, August 31, 2026).
More from the original reporting: www.utoronto.ca/news/u-t-grad-student-returns-home-inspire-nunavut-youth-stem