Parmin Sedigh | Highlights

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Join me as we take a look at some of my favourite projects I've worked on.

ISSCR 2026: Undergraduate Student Science Correspondent

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Over the past several months, I’ve been collaborating with the International Society for Stem Cell Research in promoting their upcoming flagship conference—ISSCR 2026!

ISSCR 2026 is Coming to Montréal!

Canada is a stem cell powerhouse. It began with Till and McCulloch’s seminal discovery of stem cells in the 1960s and has continued on with the discovery of trophoblast stem cells and cancer stem cells. So it’s time for the biggest stem cell meeting of the year to return to Canada, with ISSCR 2026 coming to Montréal on July 8 to 11! Help showcase the excellent science coming out of Canada by submitting an abstract by February 25! https://www.isscr2026.org/abstracts Music Credit Louie Zong - The Atom - The Universe At Our Fingertips Video Credits: https://www.pexels.com/video/people-spending-their-time-in-a-walking-street-4835657/ https://archive.org/details/youtube-dK0jq92WJDc https://pixabay.com/users/wheelerc-29690326/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=video&utm_content=130090 https://pixabay.com/users/u_ovis16jy7r-38797119/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=video&utm_content=228782 Note: As part of my work with the ISSCR, I have been given the opportunity to attend ISSCR 2026.

https://youtu.be/3Mgv9sI_muk?si=kEIZTDnCIVC8bKlS

How to Make the Most of ISSCR 2026 with Fiona Doetsch

ISSCR 2026, the biggest stem cell meeting of the year, is coming up in just a few months. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Fiona Doetsch, co-chair of the meeting, to discuss: 👥 Ways attendees can get involved (including poster presentations, organizing science spotlight sessions, and networking opportunities) 🏆 Awards and supports 💬 Words of advice to make the most of your time at the International Society for Stem Cell Research's flagship annual event ❗️If you plan to submit an abstract, don't wait! Submissions are open and close on February 25: https://lnkd.in/gvWJG3SK See you in Montréal for ISSCR 2026 from July 8 to 11! Music and Sound Effect Credits: Cassettes Theme I by Mandelbro (https://mandelbro.bandcamp.com/track/cassettes-theme-i) Four Tracks by Mandelbro (https://mandelbro.bandcamp.com/track/four-track) The Rise of a Band by Mandelbro (https://mandelbro.bandcamp.com/track/the-rise-of-a-band) Popping sound effect: https://youtu.be/3hPVv6boahw Note: As part of my work with the ISSCR, I have been given the opportunity to attend ISSCR 2026.

https://youtu.be/tS0ATLquUak?si=_qSmyDy24si1-DUL

Poster Presentation Tips with Sakurako Wong

How do you design a poster or keep your nerves in check when presenting at a large scientific conference? I had the chance to speak to Sakurako Wong, a poster award winner at a previous ISSCR Annual Meeting, about just that. Hear about her research (on interneuron migration 🧠), design tips (keep it super visual 🖼️), and how to approach different audiences (keep it general) below! Abstracts are due Feb. 25 for ISSCR 2026, the International Society for Stem Cell Research's flagship event and the biggest stem cell meeting of the year! https://www.isscr2026.org/abstracts Note: As part of my work with the ISSCR, I have been given the opportunity to attend ISSCR 2026.

https://youtu.be/Xm-wDzlkpVo?si=AdbjC0jTuSw6MuEX

Communications at the University of Toronto’s Cell & Systems Biology Department

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This past summer, I was a Communications Assistant at the Cell & Systems Biology Department where I wrote pieces about departmental research, events, and awards; filmed and edited short-form videos about graduate students’ research; and designed graphics for social media and TV screens around CSB buildings!

Cell & Systems Biology on Instagram: "🎙️Did you catch the big announcement about @uoft Prof Daphne Goring FRSC? Are you curious about what @csbgu students do in her lab? 🤔 • Keep watching to learn about Angela and the plant she studies in the Goring lab (teeny tiny Arabidopsis!), why (to better understand how plants avoid self-fertilizing), and how (featuring a mini tour of our growth chambers). 🧪🌱 #LifeSciences #Arabidopsis #PlantScience #PlantBiology"

48 likes, 1 comments - uoftcellsysbiol on September 19, 2025: "🎙️Did you catch the big announcement about @uoft Prof Daphne Goring FRSC? Are you curious about what @csbgu students do in her lab? 🤔 • Keep watching to learn about Angela and the plant she studies in the Goring lab (teeny tiny Arabidopsis!), why (to better understand how plants avoid self-fertilizing), and how (featuring a mini tour of our growth chambers). 🧪🌱 #LifeSciences #Arabidopsis #PlantScience #PlantBiology".

https://www.instagram.com/p/DOyYVjDjQ-M/

Rebecca Tam's skill at the microscope earns Hone-Buske Award for outstanding paper - Department of Cell & Systems Biology

Rebecca Tam's outstanding publication reveals how the membranes delineating nuclear chambers form in the multinucleated Drosophila embryo

https://csb.utoronto.ca/rebecca-tams-skill-at-the-microscope-earns-hone-buske-award-for-outstanding-paper/

Rebecca Tam's skill at the microscope earns Hone-Buske Award for outstanding paper - Department of Cell & Systems Biology

Cell & Systems Biology on Instagram: "🤯 For real? Watching tiny worms can tell us about neuroscience 🧠? C elegans are worms 🪱 that @csbgu student Ernest Liang records to see if there are changes in behaviour. He’s looking in the Calarco lab @uoft at how RNA-binding proteins can change which active proteins are present in nervous tissue. Changes in how nerves function are reflected by changes in worm behaviour. Check out the video for more on Ernest’s work! #neuroscience #LifeSciences #Celegans #RNABindingProtein #AlternativeSplicing"

Ernest Liang, a third-year PhD student at CSB, is using C. elegans worms to study how RNA-binding proteins affect the brain's function. By analyzing the worms' behavior and molecular biology, Ernest aims to understand how gene regulation and alternative splicing contribute to the development of different types of neurons. Join Ernest on his fascinating journey into the world of neuroscience and explore the intricate relationships between RNA-binding proteins, gene regulation, and the brain's function.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DP4lVApEn2p/

A daring application and hard work earn Stella Chen the top plant biology undergraduate award - Department of Cell & Systems Biology

Stella Chen has earned the top plant biology undergraduate award in North America to work on cell wall mutants in the McFarlane lab

https://csb.utoronto.ca/a-daring-application-and-hard-work-earn-stella-chen-the-top-plant-biology-undergraduate-award/

A daring application and hard work earn Stella Chen the top plant biology undergraduate award - Department of Cell & Systems Biology

Cell & Systems Biology on Instagram: "🔬Meet Karan who’s studying the role of focal adhesions—or what she cleverly calls cells’ “grabby hands”—in cell migration! 💻Keep watching to learn about what focal adhesions are, the cool microscopes Karan uses to study them @uoft , and why they’re important in pathological conditions like cancer. @csbgu #LifeSciences #CellBiology #CancerBiology #FocalAdhesions #Microscopy"

Focal adhesions, or the 'grabby hands' of cells, play a crucial role in cell migration and are essential in understanding pathological conditions like cancer. Join Karan as she explores the world of focal adhesions, microscopes, and the implications of these cellular structures on our understanding of disease.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DQC58PtgKyP/

Writing for The Varsity

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In 2024, I was a Science Columnist at The Varsity — the University of Toronto’s (U of T) student newspaper since 1880! Specifically, I covered the fascinating work being done by researchers at U of T. Since then, I’ve continued to contribute articles. Take a look at some of my favourite articles below.

Growing organs (almost) from scratch

U of T researchers are working on growing kidneys, lungs, and more in the lab to address the organ donor shortage

https://thevarsity.ca/2024/03/03/growing-organs-almost-from-scratch/

AI in healthcare: Where it is and where it’s going

U of T researchers are developing AI models to tackle lung transplantation, artery disease, and more

https://thevarsity.ca/2024/04/07/ai-in-healthcare-where-it-is-and-where-its-going/

Guidelines for research involving Indigenous communities are lacking

U of T researchers’ guidelines suggest ways to improve research by involving Indigenous Peoples

https://thevarsity.ca/2024/03/17/guidelines-for-research-involving-indigenous-peoples-are-lacking/

Developmental biology goes virtual

A Canadian-led initiative aims to simulate human development using computational models

https://thevarsity.ca/2025/09/07/developmental-biology-goes-virtual/

A Guide to Public Deliberation

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Scientists regularly call for public engagement opportunities to discuss cutting-edge research, but many of these calls go unnoticed or answered. Public deliberation may offer an antidote! Over several months, I worked on compiling a basic guide to public deliberation—from whether deliberation is the right approach for an issue to facilitation to picking a type of deliberative forum. It’s now published on the blog of the Federation of American Scientists. Take a look below!

A Scientists' Guide to Public Deliberation

Public deliberation can lead to more transparency, accountability to the public, and the emergence of ideas that would otherwise go unnoticed.

https://fas.org/publication/guide-to-public-deliberation/

Podcast Features

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I've been lucky enough to be a guest on a few podcasts where I talk about my experience with research as a young person, the advice I have for other young people in STEM, and more! Give the episodes a listen below.

Gairdner Science Week Correspondent

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During Gairdner Science Week 2022 — a series of events celebrating the Gairdner Award winners who are exceptional biomedical scientists — I was the High School Science Correspondent. I created a variety of content about the scientists’ work and events including a stem cell history explainer, a vlog of the events, tweets, and an interactive game. (More recently, I got a chance to ask some of the 2024 Gairdner Award laureates a question during the live awards announcement!)

Gairdner Foundation on Twitter / X

Parmin, our #GairdnerScienceWeek High School correspondent, is here to give a spotlight look into Dr. Benjamin Ebert's talk on “Clonal hematopoiesis and the origin of blood cancer" at our International Symposium NEXT WEEK! register here: https://t.co/HxibbFscyN pic.twitter.com/WtNEqueLk7— Gairdner Foundation (@GairdnerAwards) October 17, 2022

https://twitter.com/GairdnerAwards/status/1582053117256175616

The Gairdner Science Week Game!

Created with Figma

https://bit.ly/gairdner_science_week_game

Public Speaking

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On August 13, 2022, I spoke about biotechnology at Pyxis Hacks, a coding event (hackathon) for middle school students. I introduced them to what biotech is, some of its amazing applications, and how they can get started in the field. Watch it below.

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I got the great opportunity (from STEM ResearcHER, a student-run organization) to host a workshop all about how to write a research article for those just getting started. Watch it below.

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On July 30, 2022, I had the opportunity to speak about a combinatory approach to Parkinson’s disease involving senolytics and a cell therapy in the Biocord Discord server. Watch it below.

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At the beginning of 2021, I gave a talk titled The Rapid Development of COVID-19 Vaccines & How to Replicate it in the Future. Watch it below.

Combining Stem Cells & Design

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Combining my passion for design and stem cells, I created The Stem Cell Game, a game where you can learn some basic information about stem cells and then test your knowledge. Click below to play.

The Stem Cell Game!

Created with Figma

https://bit.ly/stemcell_game

Medium

YouTube

Highlights