Mareya is an undergraduate in the Microbiology program at UVic who has been working in the Swayne lab as a Research Assistant since 2021. She is a part of several projects, including studying the effects of COVID-19 on the brain, exploring various imaging techniques for optimal analyses, and aiding in our dendritic spine analysis of pannexin 1 impact on dendritic spines. She is currently investigating the microbiome’s effects on dendritic spines in collaboration with Dr. Lisa Reynolds. Outside the lab setting, Mareya’s passions lie in travelling, pursuing her artistic interests through dance, music and reading, and actively enjoying the outdoors- sailing, canoeing, swimming, and rock climbing. She is also interested in healthy lifestyle management and writes blogs for various medical aesthetic businesses.