We are proud to announce that Dr. Julia Schmidt has been appointed to Associate Professor with tenure. Dr. Schmidt, who joined our department following a postdoctoral fellowship supervised by Dr. Lara Boyd (Department of Physical Therapy) and Dr. Jill Zwicker (OSOT), is an expert in traumatic brain injury. Her teaching is centred on neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neurorehabilitation, and her research, which supports people living with traumatic brain injury, is conducted in partnership with people with lived experience, members of the community, and organizations such as the BC Brain Injury Association and Nanaimo Brain Injury Society.
Dr. Schmidt sat down with us to talk about her academic journey and the meaning of this achievement to her.
Achieving tenure and a permanent position is a milestone for every academic. How did it feel to get the news?
Relieving! After submitting the application in Fall last year, I was anticipating the news, but didn’t want to be overly confident. It caught me by surprise in some ways!
I understand that getting tenure recognizes your years of work and contributions to knowledge, but for me, it felt like a collective achievement. It reflects the contribution of my trainees, partnerships with community, and relationships with people with lived experience. We have a shared vision, and it has shaped my work so far. I am incredibly grateful.
If you could go back in time, what is one piece of advice that you would give your younger self?
I’d probably say: Don’t be afraid to admit mistakes, ask for help, and lean into collaboration. Early on, it can feel like you need to know everything and do everything on your own, to prove yourself. I have learned that the best ideas and most meaningful work has been co-created through partnerships and conversations with others, especially people who live with brain injury.
How would you describe the broader aims of your research?
My research is about understanding and improving life after brain injury. Much of my work is co-created, in that, alongside my trainees, we work with partners who have lived experience, clinicians, family members, and community brain injury organizations. We are looking at things like identity, self-awareness, and social participation, and figuring out how rehabilitation can support people in the ways that matter to them. It’s all about co-creating solutions that reflect real needs.
What has been one of your most meaningful moments as a researcher?
How about two things?! First, I love supporting the trainees in my lab and learning from them along their journey. They have a big role in shaping our work, and I admire how they tackle challenges and creatively solve problems. I have also valued learning from and recognizing the expertise of people with lived experience of brain injury. It is humbling to see how they actively support others with brain injury and shape our research.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
When I’m not working, there’s a good chance I’m outside – and on sunny days I’ll take my work out with me! My family and I are usually doing something active together – skiing, running, biking, and attempting to garden. I also spend a lot of time in the kitchen, cooking and baking for family and friends.
Follow Dr. Schmidt’s research
The CEDAR Lab (Collaborative Evidence: Developing Awareness and Research for Brain Injury) is based at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre and affiliated with UBC. The lab collaborates with people with brain injuries, community associations, healthcare providers, and policymakers to understand the experience of people with brain injury and develop programs to support quality of life and personally meaningful goals after brain injury.
Images: Courtesy of Dr. Julia Schmidt