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Congratulations to our 2025 fall graduates! We're so proud of what you've accomplished. Read more of our convocation features.

Name: Meg Hannigan
Pronouns: She/Her
Program/Degree: Master of Science in Rehabilitation Research
Hometown: Wellington, Ontario

What inspired you to choose your field of study?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a strong curiosity about the world around me, and a constant drive to learn. This has manifested in me accumulating a plethora of hobbies, from playing hockey, to working on my motorcycle, to crocheting festive hats for my friends and family. Through these adventures, I discovered that my passion rested less in my many hobbies, and more in the opportunity to think critically and try new things. I realized that any career I chose would need to be evolving, allowing me to continue my learning indefinitely. Research was the undeniable next step.

Combining an undergraduate degree in biomechanical engineering with an underlying interest in healthcare directed my focus and brought me to clinical research with a focus on biomechanics. My graduate degree at Dal allowed me to combine my academic interests and extend my knowledge and skills. I was inspired by the interdisciplinary collaboration that was possible, as I was encouraged to expand my research potential.

What was a moment at Dal that you’ll never forget?

One of my most memorable experiences at Dal was before I even began my degree. I was volunteering with data collection in the Dynamics of Human Motion Lab to see if my supervisor and the space were a good fit for a graduate degree. I helped, and mostly observed, two of the lab’s PhD students conducting a gait analysis, strength assessment, and ultrasound imaging of cartilage on a research participant with knee osteoarthritis. The multitude of mediums of data collection and processing fascinated me. I was immediately hooked, and afterwards, went home to learn more about the different methods of analyzing gait, and more specifically, how these might translate to clinical findings in practice. That first data collection solidified my belief that research could be an engaging path along which to use my technical engineering skills in an interactive setting with patients.

Who supported you along the way and how?

My time at Dal has been transformative, helping me to find the path where my future career waited. Though the opportunities were there, it was up to me to take them, and I would not have had the strength or confidence to do so without my extensive network of support. When I first joined the Dynamics of Human Motion Lab, I had no research experience, and yet, I was welcomed in by the grad students. Grad school and specifically research work can feel isolating. You go from undergrad, with huge classes of peers completing the same tests and assignments, to a thesis, where the novelty comes from investigating a topic that is a gap in what’s been studied before. Having a deeply supportive lab group makes publication reviews, REB submissions, and funding applications seem surmountable. I feel incredibly lucky to have met such bright, funny, and kind people in my time at Dal.

Beyond the lab, I also found that the faculty went out of their way to be encouraging. I had the pleasure of working with several faculty members, including my brilliant supervisor, on various research projects, as a student representative, and through research focused journal clubs.
I also can’t emphasize the impact of my friends and family outside of Dal, who still cared about my work even after years of hearing about shear wave elastography and knee flexion moments. It truly takes a village, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the one I built in Halifax, and at Dal.

Is there a course/research topic/placement or project that really impacted you?

I truly enjoyed both my thesis research and my courses, but I can confidently say that the most impactful learning experiences I had at Dal were extracurricular. Early in the first semester of my master’s, I attended a seminar from Dr. Andrea MacNeill, an expert in Planetary Health, whose work I found compelling even though her research lies notably outside my own discipline. However, the ties between our fields caused my perception of my own research to shift and that clarity was exciting. I strongly encourage any healthcare researchers to check out her work!

Grad school offers endless opportunities. In my two-year program, I attended conferences, guest speaker seminars, research coffee chats with faculty, journal clubs, and academic comedy night. I worked with fellow grad students, engineers, physiotherapists, surgeons, and industry professionals. I learned the skills to do research through my thesis work. I learned to be a researcher through stepping up and taking advantage of the opportunities that grad school presents. I believe that my success during and since finishing my master’s can be attributed not only to my thesis work, but also the multidisciplinary external projects I participated in.

What does graduating mean to you?

To me, graduating represents a landmark of the growth I achieved throughout my master’s degree. I am now working for Nova Scotia Health, in a field that is closely aligned with, if not overlapping my master’s work. However, graduating is a moment to step back from the thrall of research to acknowledge my accomplishments, and appreciate the opportunities I have had. I am so excited to be diving into new learning and experiences, but I am so grateful for the chance to reflect on the ways in which I have grown in confidence, independence, professionalism, and self-assurance.

Graduating has been a chance for me to pause, look back at all I have accomplished these past 2 years, and be proud and grateful for the people and programs that brought me to where I am today.
Though my focus has shifted gently from knee arthritis to knee replacements, I am confident I have my current role solely due to my academic and professional growth during my MScRR program.

What is next for you?

Currently, I work for Nova Scotia Health as a research coordinator in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. In this role, I am working on several research projects, which have me using all of the skills I developed over the past couple of years at the lab. I have the chance to work closely with engineers, surgeons, and patients, honing my research skills and shifting my research focus from knee osteoarthritis to joint replacements.

While I can’t say for sure that clinical research will be the final stop for me on my career, I am truly so excited and grateful that the opportunities of my academic trajectory have led me to this role. I have found a space where my technical skills harmonize with my research competencies, and I look forward to whatever comes next.