I've spent most of my life growing up in the deserts of New Mexico. Having a microbiologist mother, I was introduced to the field of biology young and I had a great time chasing lizards in the desert and petting cows on my grandparents' farm in Minnesota. I completed an Undergraduate degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry at the University of New Mexico in 2013 (transferring my junior year from North Carolina State University). When I started school at NC State I was passionately interested in Veterinary medicine. One of my first jobs was in a low-income vet clinic and the maltreatment of animals I often witnessed dried up any desire I had to be a vet. Too often the pet owners would choose to euthanize their pet rather than pay for a simple surgery. I was still interested in medicine when I left NC State, but I wanted to be in a career where people fought passionately for their patients. Thus I shifted my future career goals to medical school. While I was fascinated with the science I was learning and its potential uses, I was frustrated at the lack of permanent solutions. It seemed like patients would come in every month with the same complaint, and the doctors would have the same remedy (better diet and exercise), which the patients wouldn't follow. Pharmaceutical solutions were complicated and often had terrible side effects. |
After discussing my frustrations with multiple friends and professors, I realized that I wanted to pursue graduate research. I wanted to be able to investigate problems that interested me (medical or otherwise), and be a part of the machine that was churning out the knowledge that would be taught in schools to future generations of students and applied by professionals like physicians and veterinarians. Instead of struggling to work within the boundaries of a field I wanted to be one of the people expanding the field's accessible knowledge.
I'm currently pursuing a master's degree in Zoology at the University of Florida in Gainesville. It's a wonderful place to live, and the Biology department is full of helpful and kind people that are extremely encouraging to a budding researcher. After completing my master's degree I plan to pursue a PhD.
I'm currently pursuing a master's degree in Zoology at the University of Florida in Gainesville. It's a wonderful place to live, and the Biology department is full of helpful and kind people that are extremely encouraging to a budding researcher. After completing my master's degree I plan to pursue a PhD.