Gretl Baghdadi has earned the 2026 Dr Leslie Paul Nyman Scholarship for her commitment to plant biology, her academic excellence and her support of fellow students.
Baghdadi says one of the most rewarding parts of her undergraduate experience has been sharing opportunities, advice, and research techniques with other students.
The Potential of Plant Biology
Baghdadi grew as a scientist by collaborating, sharing protocols, and helping newer undergraduate researchers in plant biology.
She did not begin university expecting to study plants. In high school, she was more interested in biochemistry and medicine. At UofT, she was drawn to Cell and Molecular Biology, which led her to a Human Biology course on Genetics and Biotechnology. A unit on biotechnology in agriculture introduced her to the vast potential of plant biology.
“The interest developed gradually,” Baghdadi muses. “The more classes I took and the more research experience I gained, the more interested I became in plant biology.”
She was drawn to the ways biotechnology can be applied to plants and to the similarities between fundamental biological processes across different organisms as discovered through courses such as CSB350 and CSB353.
Baghdadi joined Professor Dinesh Christendat’s laboratory as a UTEA scholar and initially worked on the molecular biology of a gene that was conserved in most organisms but not conserved in land plants. Over time, her work expanded from test tubes and bacterial research to plant-focused research, including studies involving algae.
Contributing to Community Success in Life Sciences
Among the crowded bustle of UofT in first year, Baghdadi found the Life Science Learning Community: “It was a specific space where everyone was looking out for their success and the success of the other people in the group, both in classes and extracurriculars,” she enthusiastically recalls.
She decided to “pay it forward” in later years as a mentor and senior mentor and now acts as Program Exploration Lead. For students unsure about the programs they’ve pursued or anxious about career paths, Baghdadi creates a space for students to find their bearings.
“Working with mentors one-on-one, I try to ask questions that will lead them to grow.” Baghdadi says. “I’ve also learned a lot about leadership and accountability from the people around me. Being able to share that with other students and help them find opportunities of their own has been really rewarding.”
Looking back, she wishes she had spent more time in the company of older students earlier in her undergrad. “If I could give first-year Gretl advice, it would be to talk to more people in upper years across multiple disciplines and not be shy about my own experiences,” she says thoughtfully. “Every experience is valid and meaningful.”
Baghdadi believes students can learn a great deal from hearing about the different paths others have taken and the experiences that helped shape their goals.
This care for fellow students and passion for plant biology has earned her the Nyman Scholarship. Following graduation, Baghdadi hopes to continue her scientific training through graduate studies.
Congratulations to Gretl Baghdadi!