Undergraduate Research with Jocie

Transcript

Join us at the Ardolf Science Center at St. Ben’s and meet Jocie, a senior biochemistry major and theology minor on a pre-med track. Every student at St. Ben’s and St. John’s takes full advantage of at least one experiential learning opportunity. For Jocie, that meant undergraduate research. Jocie, tell us why that meant so much to you. Take it away.

– Thanks for that introduction, Alex. I’m a woman studying in the STEM field and the first generation college student. Here at St. Ben’s and St. John’s, those feel more like opportunities than obstacles. The support that I receive from my professors and this community make it feel possible to do it all. The people and resources here really encourage students to find balance in academics, athletic and social activities. I’m a member of the Varsity Swim team. I’m involved in Special Olympics, and I’ve had the chance to study abroad, all while majoring in biochemistry on the pre-med track. It’s been such a great experience. One of the most powerful opportunities I’ve had is to think deeply and dive into research that undergrads at most schools would never be a part of. I spent the summer working directly with my professor on a three month project to develop and carry out research designed to test binding potential of anti-cancer agents with certain proteins. It was real world functional research, that sharpened my technical skills in the lab and built my knowledge of biochemistry. It’s an experience that I’m able to talk about passionately when applying to medical school, but most of all, it’s research that matters to me. My grandpa had acute lymphoblastic leukemia and was using an alternative drug for chemotherapy. I wanted to study that drug’s function in the lab. St. Ben’s and St. John’s gave me the chance to do just that. Here at CSB and SJU, I’ve made a whole new family while setting myself up for future success. I’m headed back to the lab. So Alex, back to you.

– Wow, Jocie, your research sounds both eye-opening and impactful. It’s a great example of the powerful research experiences available for undergraduate students across these two liberal arts campuses, and we know it’s gonna give you a big boost heading into medical school. We can’t wait to see what you’ll do, Jocie, thanks again.