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What initially attracted you to the Stowers Graduate School, and why did you choose to apply here?

I was attracted by the unique training that is offered at the Graduate School through direct interaction with Investigators during the courses, and the training offered by experts in the Technology Centers. The program offers multiple opportunities for hands-on experiences exploring a variety of impactful areas of research such as computational biology, development, and neuroscience.

I chose to apply because I experienced first-hand the collaborative environment of the Institute during my time as a Summer Scholar in the Bazzini Lab. I knew that the amazing environment nurtured by the Technology Centers, and the training offered by extremely committed researchers would allow me to grow as a scientist. Plus, I felt passionate about the ground-breaking research that is being done at the Institute.

What unique aspects of the Stowers Graduate School program have had the biggest impact on your research and academic development?

One of the aspects of the Stowers Graduate School I am extremely grateful for is the funding provided to attend conferences and external courses. Thanks to this support, I was able to attend the Programming for Biology course at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, which has had the biggest impact on my career as I discovered I am passionate about programming. Since I attended that course, I have been able to implement those skills in my research, and I aim to keep improving to develop a career in computational biology.

How has the collaborative environment at Stowers helped shape your research experience so far?

The collaboration between our lab and the Technology Centers has been pivotal for my thesis research. The mentorship offered by experts in the tech centers has allowed me to learn a broad array of state-of-the-art techniques. For instance, the expertise from researchers at the Automation and PCR Technology and Cells, Tissues, and Organoids centers has allowed me to develop a strategy for the creation of multiple human cell lines to evaluate the effects of the absence of factors related to gene regulation in a high-throughput fashion. The collaboration with experts in the Cytometry Technology Center has been essential for the measurement of those effects in the cell through fluorescent reporters.

Can you share a moment or experience that made you feel particularly proud or inspired during your time here?

One of my priorities is to give back to the community. It was inspiring to be able to mentor a Stowers Summer Scholar last summer. It not only provided me with the opportunity to learn how to train someone new in a research area I feel passionate about, but I was able to help them learn new laboratory techniques, develop biological questions, generate hypotheses, and even propose new ideas. I was very proud to see the growth of my mentee, and I hope I can help more students in the future.

What do you believe sets the Stowers Graduate School apart from other graduate programs in terms of resources, mentorship, and opportunities for growth?

The resources provided by the Graduate School make it stand out. The school not only offers vast support to students to receive training from the amazing scientists and researchers at the Institute, but also to attend external conferences and courses. I truly appreciate that the faculty and staff are open to discussing new ideas, and that they provide us with the mentorship or opportunities we need as predocs.

Every month, all the graduate students gather with the staff, and they listen to our opinions, our challenges, and help find solutions. For example, this year they created a new mentorship program in which senior students help new students navigate the first year. The Stowers Graduate School cares about creating new opportunities for predocs including organizing committees, volunteering, teaching, interacting with researchers from all around the country, attending workshops to improve soft skills, and so much more.

What advice would you give to prospective students considering the Stowers Graduate School? What makes it a great fit for future researchers?

My advice to prospective students would be to follow your passion. Coming from an international student viewpoint, it can be intimidating to apply to graduate schools in a different country, but opportunities such as those offered by the Stowers Graduate School make all the effort worth it. The Graduate School has provided me with valuable training in many areas of research and has helped me develop essential skills such as communication, writing, mentoring, and teaching.

How has the Stowers Graduate School supported your career goals, both in terms of your current research and your professional development?

The Stowers Graduate School has provided tremendous support in presenting my work within the Institute, where I received valuable and enriching feedback from highly qualified researchers, postdocs, and predocs. I’ve been encouraged to present my work at national conferences. The Graduate School has also supported additional coursework both within and outside the Institute. I've also been given opportunities such as teaching assistantships and mentoring students in the Summer Scholar program.