Alumni

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

After graduating from Bowdoin, I enrolled in the molecular biology PhD program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where I work in the Tyler Jacks lab. Our group uses genetically engineered mouse models to study how the immune system influences lung cancer development.

Why biochemistry?

Even before my time at Bowdoin, I was always interested in understanding the mechanisms that drive human diseases. My classes and conversations with faculty fostered a deep appreciation for how biochemistry can be used to understand biological systems, which only made me want to study it further.

Are there any classes, professors, or experiences that had a lasting impact on you?

The most impactful Bowdoin experience I had was pursuing an independent honors project with Professor Danielle Dube. In her lab, I was able to use biochemical tools and techniques to address real-world biomedical questions. Students were the primary driving force behind progressing projects. We shaped the questions we asked, the techniques we applied, and how we interpreted our data. Working with Professor Dube thoroughly prepared me and set me up for success in graduate school.

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

After graduating from Bowdoin, I moved to the United Kingdom and completed a research-based MPhil degree in earth sciences at the University of Cambridge on a Churchill Scholarship. My research used geochemistry, including stable carbon and sulfur isotopes, to address how sea level rise may impact estuarine methane production and consumption. I am now employed at the Woodwell Climate Research Center in Falmouth, Massachusetts, where I am building and programming a novel aquatic methane sensor to deploy in the Arctic and Amazon later this year.

Why biochemistry?

I chose to study biochemistry because I am fascinated by how microbes and their cellular functions control large-scale chemical cycling in the Earth system.

Are there any classes, professors, or experiences that had a lasting impact on you?

The most impactful Bowdoin experience I had was pursuing an independent honors project with Professor Danielle Dube. In her lab, I was able to use biochemical tools and techniques to address real-world biomedical questions. Students were the primary driving force behind progressing projects. We shaped the questions we asked, the techniques we applied, and how we interpreted our data. Working with Professor Dube thoroughly prepared me and set me up for success in graduate school.

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

Right after graduating from Bowdoin, I joined a neuroimmunology lab at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where I worked as a research technician for two years while applying to graduate school. I am now a fourth-year PhD student at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City in the laboratory of Alexander Gitlin (Memorial Sloan Kettering). Here, I study immunological signaling pathways and investigate how perturbations in these pathways lead to a range of inflammatory diseases.

Why biochemistry?

I chose the biochemistry major at Bowdoin because it allowed me to build the foundational knowledge needed to understand complex biological questions. The major prepared me for a wide range of research experiences, from my work in Professor Benjamin Gorske’s organic chemistry lab to my time as a research technician in a neuroimmunology lab. Ultimately, this background led me to pursue a biochemistry PhD program, where I now conduct mechanistic studies of immunological disease.

Are there any classes, professors, or experiences that had a lasting impact on you?

Taking Organic Chemistry with Professor Gorske truly changed the course of my career. Before that class, I was considering medical school, but I found organic chemistry so engaging that it inspired me to pursue research more seriously. My relationship with Professor Gorske grew through summer research and my honors thesis, which gave me my first real experience of academic research. Without Professor Gorske taking a chance on me and welcoming me into his lab, I’m not sure what path I would be on today.

What advice would you give to current students or recent graduates interested in your field?

Take advantage of the research opportunities Bowdoin offers as a small school. Work closely with your professors, because they have invaluable experience and can guide you if you are considering a career in the sciences. And always reach out to Bowdoin’s alumni network; it is one of the greatest resources we carry with us after graduation.

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

For two years, I completed an AmeriCorps fellowship at a federally qualified health center called Whitman-Walker Health in Washington, DC. As a community health worker, I was able to take on a number of roles, like performing HIV/STI testing and counseling, assisting COVID-19 testing and vaccination, and leading community outreach efforts. Now, I'm a medical student at Emory University, where I'm getting involved in research at the intersection of biochemistry and public health and getting clinical exposure at Grady Memorial Hospital, the largest public hospital in the Southeast.

Why biochemistry?

When I was in elementary school, my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and shortly after, moved in with me and my parents. As I watched her decline from the progressive neurodegenerative disease, I kept asking - why, and how? I quickly realized during my first year at Bowdoin that, by applying fundamental chemical principles to complex biological systems, biochemistry can best answer those sorts of questions. Additionally, the faculty of the Biochemistry program at Bowdoin were so engaging and friendly that it was easy for me to keep taking classes in the discipline.

Are there any classes, professors, or experiences that had a lasting impact on you?

Completing an Honors project with Professor Danielle Dube was the most formative educational experience I had at Bowdoin. By helping me design, carry out, and evaluate a project with unique relevance to my biochemical coursework and to the field of clinical immunology, Professor Dube took my love of science to another level.

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

After graduating, I joined Adimab as a predoctoral research associate, where I was introduced to biotech while working on antibody and strain engineering projects. After two years at Adimab, I enrolled in the chemical biology PhD program at Harvard University and joined David R. Liu’s laboratory. My research has focused on protein engineering, using phage-assisted continuous evolution (PACE) to evolve protein–protein and molecular glue interactions, as well as on developing base and prime editors for the correction of genetic diseases.

Why biochemistry?

The outstanding professors, engaging courses, and research opportunities I encountered during my four years deepened my passion for science and ultimately set me on the path toward further pursuit of scientific research.

Are there any classes, professors, or experiences that had a lasting impact on you?

Professor Danahy and Professor Gorske both had a lasting impact on my path in science. Professor Danahy’s exceptional lectures sparked my decision to conduct research in organic chemistry, and his teaching drew me into the subject and made me eager to learn more. Professor Gorske, as a supportive and enthusiastic research mentor, helped me fall in love with scientific research and ultimately inspired me to pursue it beyond college.

What advice would you give to current students or recent graduates interested in your field?

If you’re considering graduate school, I highly recommend spending a year or two working in a research position before applying. This experience not only strengthens your application but also allows you to further develop your research skills and gain clarity on the discipline or research topic you are most excited to pursue.