Student job profile: Nic Mocellin

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Mocellin_Nic.jpg” caption=”Fourth-year kinesiology student Nic Mocellin (right) assists Mark Tarnopolsky, professor of pediatrics and medicine, perform a muscle biopsy. Photo by Susan Bubak.”]Taking blood samples is not for the faint of heart, but it's something Nic Mocellin does without flinching. The fourth-year kinesiology student has been working as a research assistant in professor Mark Tarnopolsky's exercise lab for the past three years.

Mocellin says he likes the fast pace of the job.

“You're given a lot of responsibilities and it's great to see the link between your classes and work. What you see in the classroom is based on research that you're doing in the lab.” He added that working for his professor gives him the added incentive to succeed as a student and as an employee.

Mocellin has assisted with exercise and nutrition studies involving people from various ethnic backgrounds and age groups. His work with obese people sparked an interest in studying pediatric obesity as part of his senior thesis. He hopes to pursue a career in medicine.

Working as a research assistant has helped Mocellin understand why some patients are prescribed exercise while others are given medication or nutritional supplements.

“It gives you confidence in the decisions you make as a clinician,” he says.

Mocellin encourages students to get involved in research in their field of interest as early as their first year.

“I'm lucky that I like what I do,” he says. “If you're interested in it, it doesn't feel like work.”