Why Research?

My journey into research began with childlike wonder. As a five-year-old, I remember peering through a microscope for the first time, captivated by the intricate patterns and hidden beauty of the natural world. That moment sparked a lasting curiosity about how life works and a desire to understand the systems that sustain it.

In college, while working as a veterinary technician, I started noticing a concerning trend. More and more animals were presenting with antibiotic-resistant infections. These real-world cases made me ask deeper questions about where resistance begins and how we can prevent it. I brought these questions back to the lab and shaped them into my honors thesis, studying environmental contributors to antibiotic resistance using Daphnia microbiomes. Through this research, I saw how science could bridge the gap between clinical challenges and practical solutions.

This was where I found my passion for translational research. I realized I am most fulfilled when I use science not only to understand the world but to improve it. In biotech and pharmaceutical research, I see the opportunity to do just that. It is a field where innovation and healing meet, where treatments are developed not in isolation but with the hope of touching millions of lives. Whether through targeted therapies, novel diagnostics, or drug development, this work has profound medical relevance.

I want to be part of the stories where science brings healing, where a breakthrough in a lab becomes the reason someone gets more time with the people they love. I want to be someone who helps restore hope, brings relief, and makes the future a little brighter for those waiting on answers. Even if no one ever knows my name, I want to be a quiet hero in someone else’s story.

Now, as a recent graduate, I am ready to pursue a lifelong journey of learning, discovery, and impact. I believe that science, when paired with compassion and purpose, can help change the world, and I am committed to being part of that change.