Faculty of Arts & Science (Science) Gold Medal Winner Rex Asis (BSc (Co-op) '25) brought humility, drive and thoughtfulness to his time at the University of Lethbridge, shaping a university experience rooted in discovery and connection. Now recognized with the Faculty of Arts & Science (Science) Gold Medal, he reflects on standout moments — from a bold interdisciplinary research project on bison genetics to community-building through the Rotaract Club. With each step, he leaned into opportunities that challenged him, ultimately finding purpose in molecular biology and confidence in stepping beyond his comfort zone.
Meet Rexelle | Medal won: Faculty of Arts & Science (Science) Gold Medal
Program: Bachelor of Science | Major: Biochemistry
What does this academic recognition mean to you?
It is a great honour to be chosen for the Faculty of Arts & Science (Science) Gold Medal, knowing that I am among a group of dedicated and outstanding students. Receiving this prestigious award is a testament to the perseverance and hard work that I have put towards my degree. I also share this recognition with the people who have supported me throughout my time at the University of Lethbridge, including my family, friends, mentors and instructors. Their guidance and faith have been integral to my academic journey and continue to be a source of motivation for me to strive for excellence.
What is your most memorable ULethbridge experience?
My fondest memories at ULethbridge come from being in (late-night) study rooms with my friends. While we sometimes spend more time chatting (or playing Tetris) than doing our schoolwork, this is where I got to know many of my closest friends today. At our most academically productive, we would talk and share ideas about our random scientific curiosities.
In particular, the study room was the origin of one of my favourite experiences at ULethbridge, which was an independent studies project examining bison evolution and population genetics at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. My friends (Skyler and Mavis) and I half-jokingly brought up the idea of doing an interdisciplinary study with the biology and archaeology departments to explore this topic. Little did we know Drs. Shawn Bubel (Department of Geography & Environment) and Theresa Burg (Department of Biological Sciences) would agree to take on this project, which led to one of the most rewarding opportunities that I had during my undergraduate career.
What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at ULethbridge?
I learned that while it was important to focus on academics, it was also important to make my university experience more fun and fulfilling outside of schoolwork. For instance, being involved in the Rotaract Club helped me connect with many like-minded people, take on various leadership roles, and be involved in projects for the community. I continue to be proud of the work that the Rotaract Club does, such as the Cards for the Elderly Project, an annual card-making initiative to support seniors in our community during the holiday season.
I also learned the value of being involved in scientific research within and beyond ULethbridge, such as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in the Lethbridge Research and Development Centre. Not only was I able to immerse myself in the fascinating and novel work happening in these research facilities, but I also forged many meaningful connections that I will hold with me in my future endeavours.
Is there someone specific who had an important influence on your ULethbridge experience?
I am grateful to Laurie Pacarynuk and Dr. Andy Hudson for introducing me to the world of molecular biology through the BIOL 3210 course, which ended up being my favourite class at ULethbridge and helped me discover the field that I want to be in.
I cannot appreciate Drs. Theresa Burg and Shawn Bubel enough for taking a chance on the bison project, and for their guidance as I navigated through my first time being part of a research group.
I am also glad to have worked with Dr. Nora Foroud and the Foroud Lab at AAFC for my honours’ thesis and many of my Co-op terms. I am thankful for their trust in my abilities, as well as the valuable training and mentorship they provided to improve my molecular biology skills further.
Dr. Reem Aboukhaddour at the AAFC Cereal Pathology Lab has given me so many opportunities to explore different avenues of research, including gene-editing, field and greenhouse experiments, and bioinformatics. I am so lucky to be in such a collaborative and supportive environment like the Cereal Pathology Lab.
Finally, I want to thank all my friends at ULethbridge – Skyler, Gavin, Uvi, and so many others – for making my university experience even more enjoyable. I am grateful for their support and companionship, and I will always be inspired by their curiosity for science (a.k.a. endless conversations about random science topics). I would like to thank Skyler in particular for pushing me to reach out to professors and apply for student research jobs. I don’t think I would be where I am now without his encouragement.
What advice would you give to those about to begin their journey at ULethbridge?
Get involved – whether that's clubs, volunteering, research, co-op, or all of the above! I understand that it can be such a huge hurdle to muster up the courage to join a club or reach out to a professor.
I consider myself fairly introverted, so for the first two years of my undergraduate degree, I was hesitant to do any of those things. However, all these opportunities led me to meet my closest friends, contribute to the local community, discover my passion for research, and overall enrich my university experience beyond the classroom. So, send that email to your favourite professor that’s been sitting in the drafts, or sign up for that club you’ve been eyeing for a while!
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