Empowering others through science and leadership: Angela Zhou named Vanier Scholar
Programs: Graduate, Agile education, Research: Human development, aging & regenerative medicine, Research: Metabolism & nutrition, Impactful research, Inclusive community
By
Jenni Bozec
When Angela Zhou reflects on her path through the University of Toronto, one theme stands out: community. From building research networks in regenerative medicine to mentoring students and opening access to sport, she has focused on empowering others to grow and succeed. Now, that commitment has been recognized with one of Canada’s most prestigious graduate awards - the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. Zhou, a PhD student in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology (LMP) and a trainee in U of T’s MD/PhD program, is the latest member of LMP to earn the award.
The Vanier Scholarship recognizes doctoral students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, research potential and leadership ability.
“It’s not just about the financial support,” Zhou says. “Receiving the Vanier is incredibly motivating. It reinforces that there are people who believe in the impact my research can have - and in me as a scientist and future clinician.”
Zhou’s PhD research focuses on regenerative medicine - a field aimed at repairing or replacing damaged tissues. She works in the lab of Dr. Sara Vasconcelos, an LMP scientist whose team has developed innovative methods for isolating microvessels from adipose tissue, or fat. These networks of tiny blood vessels can then be transplanted alongside stem cell therapies.
“The challenge with many stem cell-derived therapies is that they don’t come with their own vascular networks. Our bodies need blood vessels to deliver oxygen and nutrients. Without that, these therapies can’t survive,” explains Zhou.
Her project zeroes in on how these transplanted microvessels mature and connect with host tissue - a process known as inosculation. “It’s like two vascular beds that have never seen each other suddenly becoming one system. I want to understand the molecular steps that allow primitive structures to become long-lasting, functional networks.”
By mapping this “blueprint” for vascular maturation, Zhou hopes to help inform the design of vascularization strategies that can be used for a wide variety of applications in tissue engineering. “There’s been so much work on creating new blood vessels. But I think the real paradigm shift is not just about building them - it’s about maturing them and making sure they last.”
While research is central to her PhD, Zhou says her Vanier application highlighted a broader picture of leadership. “The process of applying made me reflect on everything I’ve done and what really drives me. It reminded me that resilience, problem solving and empowering others are at the heart of who I am as a leader.”
Before graduate school, she spent nearly a decade in the sport of synchronized swimming, eventually serving as president of U of T’s club. In that role, she expanded the sport’s reach by introducing a novice team for beginners and welcoming students to join from nearby universities which didn’t have their own teams.
“I wanted to make synchronized swimming accessible to anyone who wanted to try so seeing students go from beginners to competing was incredibly rewarding.”
That same spirit of inclusivity carried into her academic life. Within the MD/PhD program, Zhou helped launch a student-run newsletter that profiles peers, shares updates and fosters connection across the long and demanding program. She has also mentored undergraduates through U of T’s Community of Support program, guiding underrepresented students through the medical school application process and into research opportunities.
“The central theme of my leadership has always been empowerment,” she says. “Whether in sport, research or mentorship, the most fulfilling part has been seeing other people succeed.”
Zhou has benefited from mentors throughout her studies and those experiences guide how she mentors others. She makes a point of sharing resources and opportunities she wishes she had known as an undergraduate.
Now in the third year of her PhD, Zhou is looking ahead to the next phase of her training. After completing her doctoral research, she will return to medical studies. She envisions a career as a clinician scientist, combining patient care with translational research. “I want my research questions to be informed by my patients”, she says.
For now, the Vanier Scholarship gives her the flexibility to focus deeply on her science. “I’m excited to further immerse myself in the scientific pursuit and delve deep into addressing my research questions without worrying about funding, that kind of freedom is huge.”
