Q: Thank you, Grace for taking some time for this interview. As you grew up in Brockport and graduated from Brockport High School, how different was your first-semester experience compared to your peers who moved to Brockport from further away?
A: Being close to home gave me the opportunity to explore what the college had to offer while maintaining the safety net of having my parents close by. I chose to live on campus to gain some independence and I believe that decision helped me have a college experience like my peers who moved from farther away.
Q. You were amazingly successful at SUNY Brockport. You won the SUNY Chancellor’s Award and the School of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award. Looking back, what lead to this success? Any tips for students today to achieve as much as possible in College?
A: I believe that maintaining my work-life balance was a big factor in my success. For me, I needed to balance studying with other activities that I enjoy, like watching my favorite show or doing a craft. I think that focusing only on studying can lead to too much stress, which actually makes academic success less attainable. Also, talking about class topics with my peers helped me understand the material on a deeper level. Some tips I have for students who want to achieve in college is to maintain a work-life balance and do not be afraid to ask your peers for help.
Q: What did you do for fun while at Brockport?
A: At Brockport I enjoyed playing music. I would play piano, viola, and guitar when I had free time. I also liked doing jigsaw puzzles.
Q: You are now in your second year as a graduate student in Biochemistry at Ohio State University. Was going to graduate school to pursue a PhD in Biochemistry always your intent?
A: I originally planned on going to medical school, however when I shadowed a medical doctor for the first time, I realized that I did not actually like the career. When I was doing research, I loved the process and felt excited about research when I went to my first conference.
Q: Would you mind providing a brief summary of your current research in graduate school is all about?
A: At Ohio State University, I am currently doing research in the Karin Musier-Forsyth lab. My project is focused on how transcriptional start-site heterogeneity determines the fate of HIV-1 viral RNA. I am specifically interested in the effect of differential capping on HIV-1 genomic RNA 5’UTR structure, packaging selectivity and translation. Ultimately, the outcomes of this research will determine potential RNA targets for antiretroviral therapies.
Q: What aspects of your undergraduate experience were particularly important to prepare you for graduate school? In hindsight, is there anything you would have done differently?
A: I believe the study habits that I built in undergrad have helped prepare me for graduate coursework. I feel confident in my ability to understand new material and commit it to memory. Also, participating in research helped prepare me for the lab work I do now. Although I am not using the techniques I used in undergrad, the experience helped me think about experiments as a scientist would.
Q: Do you have any other thoughts or words of wisdom that might be helpful for current SUNY Brockport students studying chemistry or biochemistry?
A: Do not be afraid to ask your professors questions, whether it is about careers in your field or about classwork. They want to see you succeed.