By Grace Johnston – Contributor

Anne-Marie Viens-Larin is a Plant Biologist. She has spent the last five years of her education immersed in biology, presented her research to hundreds of plant scientists from around the world, and overcome countless barriers, returning to school as a mother and mature student. However, the seeds of imposter syndrome and doubt were sowed into her most prideful achievements, and she would not begin to identify as a Plant Biologist until June 2024. After presenting the results of her independent study at the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) conference, Viens-Larin underwent a massive shift in confidence and began proudly embracing her identity in the field.  

Viens-Larin’s educational journey was nothing short of unconventional. After nearly a decade away from school, several odd jobs, and two children, she returned to CEGEP to finish her schooling. To complete her degree requirements, she took a mandatory Biology class and was immediately enthralled with the material. This spark of interest in biology opened the door to continuing her education. 

In the fall of 2023, she began researching pollen and the TCA cycle in plants under the guidance of Dr. Weraduwage. Although Viens-Larin felt at ease in the lab, she could not shake the insecurity of feeling like an imposter. That winter, Dr. Weraduwage urged her to present her research results at the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists’s 100th-anniversary conference in Honolulu, which at the time seemed utterly out of reach. She was halfway through her project with no guarantee of significant results. The conference was very prestigious, and above all, specifically for plant biologists; she did not feel like she belonged. After a month of indecision, she finally took the leap. 

Viens-Larin was awarded a B.E.S.T. Project Fund Scholarship which enabled her to attend the conference. In Honolulu, she shared her research with more than 900 scientists including Dr. Thomas Sharkey, who cultivated confidence in her she had never felt before. Sharkey, recently named a Pioneer Member of the ASPB, spoke to Viens-Larin as an equal, raising her to his level. One of the momentous takeaways that came from stretching her comfort zone to Honolulu was the hour she spent talking to Dr. Sharkey. Viens-Larin felt a fundamental shift in her identity, and for the first time in her career, she referred to herself as a plant biologist. 

Upon returning to Bishop’s, Viens-Larin continued to pursue higher education by starting a Master’s degree in Plant Biology. Viens-Larin’s confidence and excitement about her B.E.S.T. Project at the ASPB in Honolulu is palpable. She is on a mission to take agency in her life, cultivate her identity, and teach her three children to live with the same tenacity. When asked about further opportunities, she now responds with an optimistic “maybe, I don’t want to close any doors”. Viens-Larin has overcome great barriers and earned the right to declare with unwavering assurance that she is a plant biologist.