Shanelle Gingras (she/her) is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (MMID) at the University of Manitoba. Her work focuses on using RNA-sequencing techniques to understand susceptibility to viral infections (HIV and COVID-19) in vulnerable populations. Shanelle’s contributions as the Trainee Working Group Outreach Executive for Women in Science; Development, Outreach, and Mentoring (WISDOM) have been focused on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), which she is passionate about incorporating throughout all stages of research. While serving two consecutive terms as Student Council President, Shanelle developed the MMID Community Outreach Initiative, the Pandemic Mental Health Workshop, and the Biostatistics and Epidemiology Workshop for graduate students. Shanelle is an alumnus of the President’s Student Leadership Program and a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship. Although Shanelle is a basic scientist by training, she has worked collaboratively with epidemiologists, social, and clinical scientists within international training programs and in leadership capacities on multiple committees throughout her graduate education.
