Welcome back to Team Insights, where we offer you an opportunity to get to know a bit more about our team at Microbiome Insights. We hope to show you the faces of the people you will be working with and the human element behind the now virtual interaction. For this Team Insights, we want you to meet Yuling Li, our senior research technician.

Hello Yuling, we appreciate you taking the time to talk. Just to start off, when did you start at Microbiome Insights?

A: January of 2017.

What do you do at Microbiome Insights? Describe your role?

A: I am a senior research technician. I am doing bench working every day.

What interests you most about the area of the microbiome?

A: I especially like sequencing techniques. I feel my skills are particularly well- suited to this because I have worked in this field for more than 20 years.

What do you enjoy most about Microbiome Insights?

A: The people I work with are very nice. I am very interested in learning about new technology.

What’s the best advice you can give to someone who just started their career?

A: Work hard and work carefully.

What was it like moving to Canada?

A: I am a person full of curiosity. I wanted to know what it is like outside of China. When I just came to Canada, I experienced a big culture shock, language, people, food and landscape. It took me quite a long time to adapt here. Now, I like the colourful multicultural, beautiful landscapes, and friendly, helpful and polite people.

What was attending university in China like?

A: The campus life in China universities is rich, colorful and fulfilling. As a student, I am always trying my best to acquire more knowledge and to learn more skill which can help me to become better in the near future. The student life at university was an absolutely unforgettable experience for me. It plays an important role in my life.

What are your passions outside of work?

A: Hiking, painting.

What’s your secret talent that no one knows about?

A: I'm very good at painting and writing.

What sort of things do you like to write?

A: I like writing poetry. I also love to write my travel stories and fantasy adventure stories because it serves as a memory of my daily experiences.

If you could get a new skill in 10 minutes, what would it be?

A: I'd like to learn more English and speak it better.

What does diversity mean to you?

A: try to understand other people and accept them.

Thank you again Yuling for taking the time to let us get to know you better. She has a wealth of experience and adds much needed positivity to the work environment. And if you're ever looking for poetry recommendations, you'll know who to ask!