My first job out of school is a summer position at a small placer mine in Interior BC. It gave me a firsthand look at how a promising idea can begin in the middle of the wilderness, where prospectors start with little more than instinct, science and persistence, and eventually become the source of the minerals that power everyday life. I knew I wanted to be part of that journey.
A decade later, I’m now the Spectroscopy Manager at MSA Labs, having worked my way up from lab assistant through curiosity, hands-on learning and hours of self-directed research. Today, I lead a Vancouver-based team analyzing mineral samples from around the world, with shipments arriving from Alaska, Africa, Scandinavia and South America.
My world is defined by precision instruments and constant innovation. New technologies now detect smaller mineral signatures, analyze larger samples faster and reduce environmental impacts through techniques like photon assay.
For me, the science is only part of the story. I see my work as one link in a much larger chain, helping identify the critical minerals that support modern life, strengthen Canada’s energy and resource independence, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in mineral exploration.