Fiza Arshad

If you’ve visited this site before, you might have noticed—it’s been a while. My last update was in 2019, just as I began my Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia. Since then, life has brought no shortage of challenges.

Like many wide-eyed trainees arriving in a new city, I was busy settling in, meeting my cohort, and diving headfirst into data collection. Seven months later, COVID-19 hit. I suddenly found myself living alone through the lockdowns—away from family, friends, and even my husband. Those early days of isolation were tough, both personally and professionally.

I stepped away from this site simply because there wasn’t space. But over time, I’ve learned a lot—about protecting my time, clarifying what matters, and shaping a career grounded in rigour, authenticity, and values that actually resonate with me.

Now that I’ve gained some clarity (still deep in the PhD, of course), I’m excited to return to this space—this time, with more passion, a stronger voice, and a wider vision for what’s possible.