Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Major Jobs and Graduate School Acceptances 2019
biochemistry & molecular biology
Marissa Ruschil
Majors: chemistry, biochemistry & molecular biology
Hometown: Katonah, New York
Graduate School: Teachers College, Columbia University
Field of study: communication sciences & disorders
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
Entering Dickinson College, I was uncertain of my future career path, though I always enjoyed science. Searching for a plan, I joined the Pre-Health Society to learn about different professions, which sparked my interest in the rehabilitation field. I have chosen Speech-language pathology as a future career because I could integrate what I enjoy most including being of service to others, utilizing my technological skills, and having the opportunity to engage in research. Being a small, liberal arts college, Dickinson has a close-knit community filled with committed faculty and staff who want students to be the best version of themselves. Dickinson has given me the opportunity to take a wide variety of courses and find my passions, where I have been able to use all the skills taught to me and apply them to my future.
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
I am grateful for the opportunity to continue my studies at Teachers College, Columbia University and receive a solid academic foundation with the clinical and research skills needed to become a competent and compassionate clinician.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
Having a love of science, I am double majoring in chemistry and biochemistry & molecular biology. I studied abroad in Norwich, England in the fall of my junior year, which was an amazing experience because it was the first time I have ever left the country. I have been grateful to engage in research on and off campus with Professor Tiffany Frey and present at multiple conferences. On campus, I am a member of the varsity softball team, a TA for the Chemistry Department, president of Challah for Hunger, member of the Pre-Health Professional Program, copy editor for the Dickinson Science Magazine, as well as brother of Alpha Phi Omega. For my service, I received a Raven’s Claw Scholarship that recognizes a senior in the graduating class who demonstrates academic achievement and leadership. I have truly enjoyed being part of the Dickinsonian community that has given so much to me these past four years.
Jacqueline Hwang
Majors: biochemistry & molecular biology, religion
Hometown: North Potomac, Maryland
Graduate School: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Field of study: medicine
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
Dickinson's emphasis on interdisciplinary education has broadened my perspective and strengthened my passion to learn more about how science, humanities and art reinforce one another. Moreover, being able to participate in the diverse array of clubs and organizations at Dickinson gave me the opportunity to meet new friends, interact with the Carlisle community and develop new skills to use in the future.
Kevina Birungi
Major: biochemistry & molecular biology
Hometown: Silver Spring, Maryland
Fellowship: NIH Post Baccalaureate IRTA Fellowship
Employer: The National Institutes of Health
Job Responsibilities
I will be working at the Vaccine Research Center with the head scientist and other researchers to find a HIV Vaccine.
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
Taught me interdisciplinary thinking and improved both my writing and communication skills.
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
Making the most of it.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
- Doing cancer research with Professor Michael Roberts.
- Being an organic chemistry tutor and teaching assistant.
- Being a junior class senator.
Anh Nguyen
Major: biochemistry & molecular biology
Hometown: Hanoi, Vietnam
Employer: CIMS, ScribeAmerica
Job title: medical scribe
Job Responsibilities
Real-time charting, inputing the electronic health record, saving doctor's time.
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
I love biochemistry, classical ballet, PE and the study abroad program at Dickinson. A year abroad helped me balance my life, study bible and follow Jesus. It is the best foundation for life that I could ever imagine that I need.
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
Medical scribe for two years and applying to medical school later.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
My decision to major in biochemistry and dropping math. Going abroad for one year where I learned the most valuable lessons.
Internship Experience
Military Institute of Forensic Medicine, Hanoi, Vietnam
Big C - Norfolk Cancer Charity, Norwich, England
Kayla Bendinelli
Major: biochemistry & molecular biology
Hometown: Princeton, New Jersey
Employer: The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Job title: research associate
Job Responsibilities
I will be working in the Cardiovascular Disease Initiative group at The Broad, running various experiments to identify drug targets in heart disease.
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
Dickinson has prepared me for life after graduation in many ways. Not only has Dickinson given me a solid background in molecular biology and research that I feel confident stepping into my job, but Dickinson also has encouraged me to step out of my boundaries and to challenge myself, making me feel comfortable moving to a new city.
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
I am anticipating a new adventure and expanding my abilities as a scientist.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
Defining moments at Dickinson would include the first time I presented my research in Professor Michael Roberts' lab at the Biology Symposium, field hockey home opener for my senior year and playing volleyball on the sand courts with my friends.
Internship Experience
I performed research on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the circadian rhythm at Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J. from May 21-August 17, 2017.
Emily Rieder
Majors: biochemistry & molecular biology, biology
Hometown: Collegeville, Pennsylvania
Graduate School: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Field of study: medicine
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
Dickinson has given me the opportunity to gain leadership experience in and out of the classroom. My professors have supported me and guided me in the right direction and that has greatly prepared me for the next step in my education.
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
I am excited to begin medical school and start working towards my career goals.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
Joining my sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta and serving on the executive board was one of the best experiences I had at Dickinson. Additionally, I enjoyed being a part of the golf team and forming friendships with not only other athletes at Dickinson, but at all of the schools in our conference as well. In the classroom, I enjoyed all of the science classes and getting to know each of my professors, as well as many of my non-major classes that I took.
Madison Milaszewski
Majors: biochemistry & molecular biology, biology
Hometown: Rutland, Massachusetts
Employer: Genocea
Job title: research associate
Job Responsibilities
Work with antigen identification team and focus on patient sample handling. Sorting, feeding, culturing, harvesting and screening cells.
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
Dickinson has given me the lab skills and biology knowledge to succeed in my field.
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
I am most anticipating the excitement of being on my own.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
Some of the defining moments are my experiences in the leadership opportunities like the Emerging Leaders Retreat, Sophomore Leaders Retreat and the Senior Leadership Institute. Another defining experience has been making playoffs in my senior year with the softball team.
Internship Experience
Worked at Genocea in Cambridge, Mass., as a research intern studying T cells and the immune response.
Brigitte Jacoby
Majors: neuroscience, biochemistry & molecular biology
Hometown: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Employer: Massachusetts General Hospital
Job title: clinical research coordinator
Job Responsibilities
I will be aiding in the completion of clinical trials for a neuroscience research lab focused on cerebella disorders. I will be interviewing possible candidates for the study, as well as organizing patient visits and aiding in writing and presenting the results of the study.
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
Dickinson has made me confident in my passion for science and confident in my choice to pursue a career in science postgraduation. I have become a better critical thinker and have much improved laboratory skills translatable in many fields of science research. The atmosphere of the classroom at Dickinson has allowed me to be inquisitive, be it a question of not understanding a topic or a question of how something works. Dickinson has made me a more well-rounded and excited student of a global community.
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
I am excited to continue a career in science while getting to interact with patients in a healthcare setting. During this time, I will also apply for medical school, which is my ultimate goal. I am excited to complete research beyond the classroom and translate what I have learned in and out of the classroom into research in the medical field.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
Study abroad, Neuroscience 200 labs, Pre-Orientation, Hypnotic, club volleyball, weekend hikes with friends, WDCV concerts, Treehouse open mic, Treehouse Soup and Bread, relaxing on Morgan Field, neuroscience baking nights and many, many more!!
Internship Experience
I completed two summer research internships during my time at Dickinson. One was at UCONN Health in Farmington, Connecticut, as a student research assistant where I was tasked with completing sterile cell culture, suturing and cleaning specimens. My second internship was as a student researcher at the University of Hartford in Hartford, where I mixed solutions and buffers and helped complete literature searches to draft a procedure for the experiment.
Max Yoshida
Majors: neuroscience, biochemistry & molecular biology
Hometown: Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan
Employer: Michigan Medicine at the University of Michigan
Job title: research assistant
Internship Experience
Health science research internships from laboratory benchwork to clinical survey research.
Ali Bayat
Major: biochemistry & molecular biology
Hometown: Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Employer: ScribeAmerica
Job title: scribe
Job Responsibilities
Performing documentation in the EHR, gathering information for the patient's visit and allowing for the optimal interaction between the physician and the patient.
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
Dickinson has taught me to think outside the box, which is a vital component of the liberal arts education. The education allows me to analyze different viewpoints and tackling obstacles more carefully, taking different components of the challenge and breaking them into smaller pieces in order to make it more efficient and more simple to accomplish. Dickinson had some challenging moments, but I know that in the end it will benefit me in the real world.
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
I hope to take a gap year to fully find myself and explore jobs pertaining to both medicine and policy. Then I would like to apply to pharmacy school.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
- My externship at Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) helped me see the world of very influential people and how much of an impact they can make to society. When talking to the CEO of BIO it made me realize that everybody starts from somewhere small, but with persistence and dedication, the sky is the limit.
- My biochemistry research with Associate Professor of Biology David Kushner allowed me to have hands-on experience with research that I would not be able to get anywhere else, thus allowing me to have an advantage when entering the real world.
- The endless support through my family and friends have helped me get to where I am now.
Externship Experience
Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO)
- Shadowed the CEO, and former Congressman Jim Greenwood '73, extensively and attended important meetings to discuss policy about healthcare and how it could be improved.
- Had discussions with department heads of BIO about biotechnology and how it impacts healthcare.
- Attended meetings on Capitol Hill with both representatives and senators to discuss the healthcare system.
Erin Harten
Majors: biochemistry & molecular biology, neuroscience
Hometown: Cumberland, Rhode Island
Graduate School: Duke University
Field of study: biomedical engineering
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
As a double major in neuroscience and biochemistry & molecular biology, I am prepared with the scientific knowledge and research practice to continue my education at Duke University, and later on, to succeed in my career. At Dickinson, I have had the valuable opportunity to be involved in original research with professors. I have been able to take classes outside of the sciences, giving me a well-rounded education that will be useful in life after graduation. Through my Dickinson experiences studying abroad and as a student-athlete, I have also developed a broader mindset, and better time-management, organization and collaboration skills. I have formed amazing relationships with both faculty and students during my time here, and I know that these relationships will also carry into the future.
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
I am very excited to be continuing my education, studying biomedical engineering with a concentration in neural engineering. I am looking forward to applying what I have learned at Dickinson to my classes at Duke and expanding my knowledge in a more specific and career-focused direction.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
Attending the Eastern Psychological Association Conference this spring with other students and with Professor of Psychology Teresa Barber, who I have taken classes and researched with beginning my first year at Dickinson, was one big moment for me. Being able to present at a conference showed me how much I have learned in the past four years. I have also loved being a part of the Dickinson cross-country and track & field teams during my time at Dickinson.
Internship Experience
I served as a lab intern/order processing assistant at a nonprofit called Addgene in Cambridge, Mass., for two summers. My experience at Addgene exposed me to the daily functioning of a professional laboratory. Addgene's primary role is to collect plasmid samples and distribute them around the world for scientists to utilize in research. I was able to learn from the employees at Addgene not only about the organization itself but about ongoing projects and different laboratory techniques.
Carlin Smith
Major: biochemistry & molecular biology
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Graduate School: St. George's University School of Veterinary Medicine
Field of study: veterinary medicine
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
Dickinson has given me a solid liberal-arts education, encompassing many skills that will be useful in the real world.
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
I am most excited to follow my passions and help save the lives of animals.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
Being a part of Dog House has really shaped my Dickinson experience.
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Published April 5, 2019