Jena Alam

“My name is Jena Alam, and I am a Biochemistry major at the University of Washington with a deep interest in policies related to biotechnology and healthcare systems. I grew up in Bangladesh before moving to the United States, and navigating that transition taught me firsthand that you cannot truly understand a place until you have lived it. That belief is exactly what drew me to the Corbett Exchange.

At the University of British Columbia, I am most looking forward to exploring how Canada’s universal healthcare system shapes scientific research, academic culture, and policy priorities, and how that contrasts with the privatized structure I have observed studying in the US. I hope to bring those comparative insights back to UW and into what I hope to build at the intersection of science and policy. Beyond academics, I am also excited to build community, meet new people, and foster the neighboring relationships between Canadians and Americans at a time when that connection feels more important than ever.”