Harvir Lochab

About

Year	Third Year
Degree	Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology
Major	Applied Animal Biology
Hometown	Nairobi, Kenya

Coming Full Circle: From the Wildlife at Home to Research at UBC

Harvir is a third-year Applied Biology student majoring in Applied Animal Biology. Growing up in Kenya, wildlife was always part of his life, but he never imagined he’d one day study those same ecosystems through research at UBC. Working in the Gaynor Lab on predator-prey interactions in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, has connected his academic path with his roots in a powerful way. As a transfer student from Columbia College, Harvir was initially worried about getting lost in the crowd at a large university like UBC. What drew him to LFS was its tight-knit environment, small enough to know the people around you, supportive enough to help you grow. Now, between assisting in the greenhouse, serving as a Senior Orientation Leader, and annotating camera trap footage of the animals he grew up knowing, Harvir has found his place. For him, being an international student isn’t just about adapting to a new country, it’s about bringing your own background, experiences, and perspectives into the work you do. Where you come from can shape how you see the world, and that difference can be your greatest strength.

Why did you choose to transfer to LFS?

I chose to transfer to LFS because I had heard it was a supportive and close-knit Faculty. I grew up in a small community and went to a small high school, so the idea of attending a large university like UBC felt overwhelming at first. I was worried about getting lost in the crowd and just being a number in such a big school. What really drew me to LFS was its tight knit environment. It’s small enough that you get to know the people around you, which made the transition feel a lot more manageable. I’m in the Applied Biology program, which feels like a natural fit since I grew up on a farm. It’s a very calm and familiar environment for me, and I’m also actively involved with the Faculty. I assist in the greenhouse and help with small tasks like housekeeping and preparing plants. In addition to that, I was as a Senior Orientation Leader, supporting Orientation Leaders to welcome new students to the Faculty. Between classes, I love retreating to the greenhouse with my headphones on, just enjoying the music, it’s such a peaceful space.

How was your transition to UBC? What support(s) at LFS helped you most with your transition?

My transition to UBC had its ups and downs, but orientation programs like Imagine UBC really helped me get started. Meeting other international students going through the same experience made me feel less alone. Getting involved in volunteering and research also helped me build a sense of belonging. UBC can feel huge at first, but once you find your smaller communities, like labs, clubs, or friend groups, it starts to feel like home.

One of the challenges I faced when I first came to UBC was adjusting to the difference in support systems compared to my previous college. Back in my previous college, student services mostly focused on registration and course planning, and that was about it. But in LFS, I quickly realized how much more support was available. LFS Student Services helped me not only with academics, but also with things like mental well-being and even career planning. I remember speaking with the LFS Career Strategist, who gave me great advice about my future path and helped me feel a lot more confident. Being part of a small Faculty also made a big difference as people really get to know you here. Even if you volunteer for just one thing with LFS Student Services, chances are someone will remember you. That sense of community helped me feel seen and supported, and it taught me that reaching out and making connections can completely change my experience for the better.

What were some research experiences you participated in as a student?

I’m currently working with the Gaynor Lab in the Department of Zoology, where I’m part of a project that studies predator–prey interactions in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. The lab focuses on how ungulates, or hoofed animals, respond to predator sounds, and how those responses change as predator populations are being reintroduced after decades of absence due to war. My role involves watching and annotating thousands of camera trap videos from our Automated Behavioural Response (ABR) research, labelling behaviours like vigilance, foraging, and flight, and collecting detailed metadata about species, group size, and environmental context. It’s been an incredible experience seeing how animal behaviour connects with larger ecological patterns and conservation efforts.

What steps did you take to find your research opportunity?

I found this opportunity through my BIOL 230 teaching assistant, who is now my mentor in the Gaynor Lab. Near the end of the term, he mentioned he was looking for students to help with his project, and I immediately reached out. Even when I didn’t hear back right away, I kept following up to show how genuinely interested I was in this research. I also made sure to highlight what I could uniquely contribute. Being from Africa, I was already familiar with many of the species in the study and I knew I could bring valuable background knowledge about their ecology and behaviour. That persistence and personal connection really helped me get involved.

How did you tailor your application or approach to stand out to potential mentors?

When I reached out to my mentor, I made sure to highlight what made me different from other applicants. I talked about growing up in Kenya and being familiar with the landscapes and species that the research focuses on, which gave me a strong sense of connection to the work. I also emphasized that I was eager to learn, reliable, and committed to following through. I think showing both personal passion and practical strengths helped me stand out and it showed that I cared about the project beyond just wanting research experience.

What have you learned through participating in research?

The most rewarding part of my research has been realizing how my work contributes to a larger understanding of how ecosystems recover after conflict. Observing animal responses to predator sounds and transforming those reactions into data has deepened my appreciation for the connection between fieldwork and quantitative science. Through this process, I have gained skills in annotating behavioural data with CVAT, managing large datasets, and using R for coding and statistical analysis. Learning R was also the biggest challenge, I started with no coding experience and was suddenly faced with hundreds of data points to clean and organize. With mentorship and persistence, I have learned to approach mistakes as part of the process, developing patience, critical thinking, and a stronger confidence in my ability to uncover meaningful ecological insights.

What advice and tips do you have for those who are just starting their research journey?

I wish I had known that you do not need to have everything figured out before starting research. When I began, I worried about lacking experience or technical skills, but curiosity and a willingness to learn matter far more. My biggest advice is to reach out to professors or TAs whose work interests you, even if you don’t feel “ready.” Most opportunities come from starting conversations and showing genuine interest. I also didn’t rely on specific websites or webinars to find positions; instead, I stayed attentive in classes and followed up on research mentions or projects I heard about. Staying engaged, asking questions, and showing persistence, sometimes even through a simple follow-up email, can open doors to meaningful research experiences.

How has your experience in research influenced your academic and career trajectory?

Before joining the lab, I was completely set on becoming a wildlife veterinarian, a goal I’ve had since childhood. While that passion remains strong, my research experience has broadened my perspective and introduced me to the world of graduate studies and behavioural ecology. I have discovered that I love asking questions about animal behaviour and using data and observation to find answers. This experience has shown me that conservation can be advanced not only through medicine but also through research and understanding ecosystems. I am still on the pre-veterinary track and plan to apply to vet programs globally, but I now see research as an integral part of my future. My hands-on work, whether as a vet intern in Kenya, caring for rabbits on campus, or supporting a local cat shelter, has deepened my commitment to animal care while reinforcing my curiosity about how science can protect wildlife in more ways than one.

How has your experience in LFS shaped your vision for your future?

Almost all of the experiences that have shaped my future goals have come through LFS in some way. I got involved with the greenhouse through the LFS Mentorship Program, and I found opportunities like volunteering with rabbits during an event hosted by LFS. Even my work with the cat shelter came from a connection I made through our LFS Career Strategist, who I met during a resume workshop hosted in Agora. She showed me a volunteer website, and that’s how I found the cat shelter opportunity. These experiences have been incredibly important, especially as someone hoping to go into veterinary medicine. Vet school usually requires two references, one from a vet and one from an animal-related setting. While some people get their experience from working on farms, I was able to build mine through my time with the rabbit program and the cat shelter. Even though it was not clinical vet work, it still gave me valuable animal experience. LFS has not only helped me find these opportunities, but it has also helped me build confidence and shape a clearer vision for the kind of work I want to do in the future.