There are many opportunities in life, and I’ve had to make a lot of decisions quite recently that will affect me for years to come. Most importantly, I’ve had to decide what specifically I want to study, and whether I want to pursue that study beyond the level of a bachelor’s degree. Coming to RPI, I was sure I would major in biology, but I was having a hard time deciding what type of biologist I wanted to be.

Having had experience working in labs during high school, I immediately found an interesting lab and began working there partway through my first year at RPI. This experience working in Dr. Fern Finger’s lab with Caenorhabditis elegans gave me knowledge of what it is like to work as a research biologist.

When I received the invitation to apply to the B.S./Ph.D. Program, I had for the most part decided that I wanted to pursue biology for my Ph.D. My acceptance into the program gave me the opportunity to take the path that I had chosen for myself. Currently, I am still working with Dr. Finger, on a project studying abnormal pharynx development in C. elegans septin protein mutants. I am also planning to study the process of distal tip cell migration in C. elegans for my Ph.D.

Although I’ve been spending a lot of time in the lab, I also enjoy reading and cooking, and I’ve recently begun learning Tae Kwon Do. Ultimately, though, I really just enjoy spending time with my friends.