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Stephen Cheung Profile

I was born in Hong Kong in 1968, moving with my family to Vancouver in 1975. My B.Sc. (Combined Honours) in Oceanography/Zoology at the University of British Columbia studied tidal influences on phytoplankton productivity, and my advisor Paul J. Harrison was the one who really fired me up with a love for research (Thanks Paul!).

Sailing the seas was great fun, but I was crazy-mad about bicycling, and wanted to dig into a field that held both personal and professional passion. So I switched to a M.Sc. in Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University, thinking I'd specialise in exercise physiology. Instead, Igor Mekjavic threw me into a cold tub and into the world of thermophysiology where I have remained (both the field AND the cold tub!). I spent my summers during my M.Sc. working at the Defence & Civil Institute for Environmental Medicine (DCIEM, now DRDC-Toronto), learning a lot more about research with Tom McLellan. Through that, I was invited to pursue a Ph.D. at University of Toronto with Tom, studying the heat stress involved when wearing protective clothing in the heat.

In keeping with my wanderlust, I spent two summers during my Ph.D. at the International Space University, working with awesome space professionals from all around the world. I spent another summer participating in a ride across Canada to promote national unity. Through that I met my lovely wife Debbie, so all the pain and suffering was worth it and more!

Following my Ph.D., I then spent a short visit with Ron Maughan at the University of Aberdeen prior to beginning at Dalhousie University as a faculty member in 1998. Debbie and I got married in a remote castle ruins overlooking the North Sea, complete with kilts, bagpipers, and Robbie Burns poetry.

The common theme of the above is that I have been fortunate to work in some terrific laboratories and with some excellent mentors, and have used science as an opportunity to see the world. Therefore, I have always striven to create an environment where students are valued and a strong student-advisor bond and collaboration is built both inside and outside of the lab. I encourage potential students to contact my past and current "Lab Personnel" to get a confidential assessment of what the EEL is like and what I have to offer.

When not buried in the lab, my wife Debbie and our two boys (Zachary - 5 and Jacob - 3) provide endless entertainment and diversion. I am obviously passionate about bicycling, with Debbie and I owning 7 bikes (including a tandem)! My passion for the sport has involved commuting and racing since 1986 as a Cat. 3 / Masters. Frankly, I switched into kinesiology from my B.Sc. in oceanography because of my love for the sport. Since 2002, I have been able to merge my love of bicycling and science as the Sport Science and Training Editor for the leading bicycling website PezCycling News.

Last Updated March 21, 2005

Site maintained by Dr. Stephen S. Cheung, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Dalhousie University.