UWinnipeg physics student earns prizes at two national and one provincial conferences
Motivated by personal loss, Nicole Valencia’s goal is to improve research in the advancements of radiation therapy and enhancing better patient outcomes that touch the lives of those affected by brain diseases that include cancer, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.
A few years ago, Valencia’s foster sibling passed away from a brain tumor, which greatly impacted her life. During her sibling’s illness, Valencia was studying radiation therapy, but felt unsatisfied with the program. She wanted to do something that was more impactful.
“Instead of treating them with the technology that we currently have, I would rather be working towards advancements for better patient outcomes,” shared Valencia. “So, people like my sibling, who was only a child, wouldn’t have to deal with that.”
To help Valencia’s goal to improve medical advancements in radiation, Valencia is now working with UWinnipeg physicist Dr. Melanie Martin in UWinnipeg’s Brain Imaging and Metabolic Research Lab.
Nicole's prizes include:
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Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) award for attending the Canadian Organization for Medical Physicists (COMP) Annual Scientific Meeting in London, ON, in June 2025.
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Second place in the Science Spoken Succinctly competition at COMP 2025.
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People's choice award in the Science Spoken Succinctly competition at COMP 2025.
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Student's choice award in the Medical Physics Summer Student Symposium in August 2025.
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First place in the Decoding the Brain Session at the Candian Undergraduate Medical Physics Conference (CUMPC) in August 2025.
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People's choice award in the Decoding the Brain Session at the CUMPC in August 2025.
To find out more about Nicole's impressive work, please visit: