WINNER IN FOCUS

Women in Neuroanesthesiology and Neuroscience Education and Research (WINNER) in Focus

An Interview with Stefanie Blain-Moraes, PhD, PEng

Max Kelz, MD, PhD

Max Kelz, MD, PhD
Chair, Scientific Affairs Committee

Welcome to the Women in Neuroanesthesiology and Neuroscience Education and Research (WINNER) in Focus. In this issue, we are featuring Stefanie Blain-Moraes, PhD, PEng. She is a trained biomedical engineer and has developed a keen interest in neuroanesthesiology research after completing her first postdoctoral fellowship related to consciousness. Currently, she is the Canada Research Chair in Consciousness and Personhood Technologies at the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montréal, Québec. Dr. Stefanie is the recipient of the 2020 Women in Neuroanesthesiology and Neuroscience Education and Research (WINNER) Abstract Award.

Stefanie Blain-Moraes, PhD, PEng

How did you become interested in doing research in neuroanesthesiology?
I am a biomedical engineer by training and did my PhD studying how physiological signals could be used to develop communicative interaction with minimally responsive children. My first postdoctoral fellowship brought me to the University of Michigan, where I was developing brain-computer interfaces. Around this time, I was struggling with how to assess the level of consciousness of my study participants, who had little to no communicative behavior. At a grant writing seminar, my group leader remarked about the parallels between my research questions and those of anesthesiologists trying to identify instances of intraoperative awareness. He connected me with Dr. George Mashour, who graciously accepted me into his lab. I completed a 3-year postdoctoral fellowship under Dr. Mashour’s supervision and have been interested in neuroanesthesiology research ever since. 

What is your favorite part of doing research?
The thrill of discovery. The moment when you realize that because of a method that you've invented, or a technique that you've applied, you have uncovered something that nobody else has seen and that this discovery can have significant implications for our understanding of how the brain works and for clinical practice!

How do you divide your time among all of your responsibilities?
Militantly! As a tenure-track professor at a Canadian University, nominally 40% of my time is allocated for research, 40% for teaching, and 20% for service. In reality, research takes at least 70% of my time because of its open-ended nature. I find it helpful to schedule all activities -- writing, keeping up with the literature, lecture prep – to make sure that I have enough time for everything. I also have a young family, with three children under the age of eight. I try to fiercely protect a few hours at the end of each day where they have my undivided attention, and I can turn off all distractions from work. 

What advice do you have for other women just starting out in research?
Have patience; good ideas take years to grow. Stay current with the literature. Block off time to write; this activity is so important but often takes a back seat to more urgent demands. Find a research area that excites you deeply; this will get you through times when everything is going wrong, and research is a slog. 

What is your proudest accomplishment to date?
Academically, I’m proudest of the work that we presented this year at SNACC, where we showed that the degree of reconfiguration of brain networks in patients with disorders of consciousness upon exposure to propofol can predict their eventual recovery. On a personal level, I’m proud of my marriage, which is life-giving in busy season with two pre-tenure professors and three young children.

Is there anything you would change about your career?
No! I have been incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to train under the supervision of great mentors who have nurtured my development as a young scientist and to have landed at McGill University, where I have been given the opportunity to pursue my own research interests. I'm very lucky.

Who has been most influential in your career to date?
My postdoctoral supervisor, Dr. George Mashour, who introduced me to the world of anesthesiology and consciousness.  

How did this mentor best prepare you for your current work?
Dr. Mashour was a stellar example of what a PI should be: brilliant, generous with his time, honest with his students, incredibly timely with his written feedback, strategic, and passionate about research. I try to emulate the example he set every day.

How did you first become familiar with SNACC?
SNACC’s Annual Meetings were what many of my postdoc colleagues attended regularly. I was impressed with their reports of the quality and value of the meeting and attended myself for the first time in 2020.