Student Spotlight
Hometown: Davenport, Iowa
Major: Biology Minor: Criminal Justice
Why did you choose Iowa State University?
I chose Iowa State because of the location and the ability to be involved in research as an undergrad.
How did you become interested in your major?
I was always interested in biology and science as a kid, so I thought it would be best to major in something that interested me. I became interested in criminal justice when I took the introductory criminal justice class at Iowa State in my first semester here.
What are your current goals following graduation?
My current goals are to apply and be accepted into medical school in hopes of becoming a forensic pathologist.
Internship experience: Over the summer, I shadowed pediatricians at MercyOne Genesis Health Plaza. I enjoyed being able to see how the different pediatricians conducted their routine visits like physicals, while still getting all the necessary information. It helped prepare me for my future goals because clinical experience is important to have when applying for medical school.
Research experience: My research topic is looking at cellular and molecular mechanisms that lead to blood formation, specifically if progranulin a turns off NF-kB activity in hemogenic endothelium allowing for endothelial proliferation and differentiation. What I enjoy most about research is being able to
talk to graduate students about their experiences and getting tips and tricks on how to make it through undergrad. This experience has helped prepare me for the future by helping better my critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, which are crucial to have in medical school.
What are a few things you love about your major and department?
One thing I love about the department is how easy it was to get involved in hands-on research. I didn't think I would be able to find something that interested me that I would be able to get into, but there are lots of opportunities to get involved and it was really easy to get involved. I also appreciate how supportive the people around you are especially if you become good friends with those in your first semester learning community, it made the transition to college that much easier because it seemed like we were all in it together.
How would you fill in the blank for high school students interested in your field?
“You’re going to love studying the sciences at Iowa State because ….”
The people you meet. I met some of my closest friends at Iowa State during the learning community class because we all had basically the same schedule. We were able to study together and learn how to get through college together.
Do you have an example of how a professor or staff member has supported you at Iowa State?
After hearing how hard organic chemistry would be, I was nervous to take it. However, Professor Mason Koeritz made learning organic chemistry fun and taught it in a way that made sense. He teaches with such joy and really wants his students to succeed. I frequently went to his office hours for help on homework and for more guidance for when I was confused on a topic.
Last comments:
My best advice for new students is . . . take your education seriously but not too seriously that you burn yourself out and don't make friends and memories along the way. It is so important to have a support system around you to lean on especially when things get hard.