The relationships that I had with professors and all the great experiences I had with them and their help both academically and in regards to my future.
Dickinson has provided me with an incredible skill set derived from the classroom and laboratory in various disciplines, from
chemistry to Spanish. Throughout my four years, I have built the most amazing support team including peers, professors and staff members that will continue to be my mentors and motivation for years to come. I am confident that all of my experiences at Dickinson have shaped me to become a successful medical school student and future doctor.
What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?
I am most anticipating the opportunity to be a change-maker within my community. At Geisinger, there is focus on community medicine and therefore there are countless opportunities to get involved in the community and improve the health of Northeast Pennsylvania. I am super excited to use my Spanish language fluency to reach Spanish-speaking patients within my community and address their health concerns.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
One of the most defining moments of my Dickinson experience was presenting my neuroscience research at the Society for Neuroscience Conference in San Diego, Calif. last year with Professor Anthony Rauhut. Working in Professor Rauhut's lab for three years has been the most incredible opportunity and being able to showcase our work at such an important event was one of the coolest things. My research experience at Dickinson has helped me to hone my ability to think critically analyze data, write manuscripts, communicate, and perform research with little supervision.
Another defining moment of my Dickinson experience was competing at the Battle in the Saddle invitational for the equestrian team. I competed in the team Walk-trot division and placed 1st. I rode a horse named Andy who was a spectacular ride and taught me so much. It was definitely one of the most enjoyable days throughout my college career.
Is there any other information you would like us to know?
I was awarded the Geisinger Primary Care Scholarship which is a full-tuition scholarship for students with a strong interest in Primary Care. In addition, the Scholarship provides me with a monthly stipend, special research opportunities, and individual mentoring from a primary care physician. I am incredibly honored to have received such a prestigious award and am grateful for the opportunity to complete my medical school education without acquiring any debt.
Internship Experience
During the summer of 2018, I was a Neurodegenerative Undergraduate Research Fellow at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pa. I worked in Dr. Allyson O'Donnell's lab to investigate the role of alpha-arrestins in the trafficking of the mammalian renal outer medullary potassium (ROMK) channel in a yeast model. I also assisted with a project to develop a fluorescent imaging technique to image proteins that are scare on the cell surface.
Nicole Tamvaka
Majors: neuroscience, mathematics
Hometown: Paleo Faliro, Greece
Graduate School: Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Field of Study: neuroscience
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
As an international student, there were a lot of things I was told "are not for me." At Dickinson, I was able to break that chain and accomplish certain things or get positions that are typically reserved for domestic students. Being able to do that by myself at Dickinson has prepared me for the future and life after graduation. I am now more confident in my abilities and know that with hard work my dreams will not be restricted by what someone else deems impossible for me.
What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?
I am excited to start research at my thesis laboratory and be able to contribute to science and advancement of the field of neuroscience. I am also really looking forward to becoming at teaching assistant and help undergraduate students discover the amazing world of neuroscience and the human brain.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
The most defining moments of my time at Dickinson were all my discussions with the administration for various issues. Through these interactions I've become more resilient and learned to never give up fighting and defending for my rights and my health.
Internship Experience
I did two internships at a genetics and movement disorders laboratory at the Mayo Clinic campus in Jacksonville, Fla. I was responsible for a specific project, and I had to complete all necessary experiments and statistical analysis for that project. I also participate in weekly lab meetings and presentations and presented my research to all faculty and students at the end of the summer.
Thai Uyen Dinh
Majors: biochemistry & molecular biology, neuroscience
Hometown: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Graduate School: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Field of Study: medicine
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
My education at Dickinson has provided me with not only technical knowledge and skills but also adaptability and resilience. Growing in such a diverse and inclusive community has led me to keep an open mind and appreciate individual differences. I've learned to stand up for myself, communicate effectively with people and cope with stress, all of which are important for my life after college.
What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?
I'm more than excited to venture into the world of medicine, where I can learn about the human body and equip myself with the necessary skills to help people.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
My abroad semester in Queensland, Australia was definitely my favorite! I had the opportunity to visit various cities and landscapes, learned about the Aboriginal life, and embraced the Asian-influenced but diverse modern Australian culture that I had not known of.
Internship Experience
I served as a Research Assistant in Professor Connor's (Dickinson College, Chemistry Department) lab on heat-shock protein during the summer of my freshman year. In the summer of my sophomore year, I participated in an Undergraduate Cancer Research Fellowship at the University of Colorado Cancer Center. Junior summer I shadowed neurosurgeons at a General Hospital in my hometown in Vietnam.
Tori Wagner
Major: neuroscience
Hometown: Reading, Pennsylvania
Graduate School: University of California, Riverside
Field of Study: neuroscience
What was the most impactful academic experience you had at Dickinson?
Doing research with a professor.
Michael Murphy
Major: neuroscience
Hometown: West Pittston, Pennsylvania
Graduate School: University of Pennsylvania
Field of Study: behavioral and decision sciences
Employer: Fizika Group
Job title: behavioral health specialist
Job Responsibilities
I will be working to promote Fizikaflex [fizz-EEK-a-flex], a service offered by Fizika Group, a social enterprise started by a Dickinson alumna that aims to increase wellness among seniors. My responsibilities include customer service, event programming, reducing program attrition and expanding Fizika's footprint.
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
I feel that I have become a more complete person while at Dickinson. Through my academic, professional and extracurricular experiences, I learned so much about myself and the problems facing our society. I believe Dickinson has prepared me to think about these problems and equipped me to take the next steps towards a solution.
What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?
I am most anticipating my experiences in graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, I am grateful to have extended my internship with Fizika Group throughout the summer. Lastly, I am most anticipating seeing other Dickinsonians, many of whom I was unable to share a proper "goodbye" with given the pandemic.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
I am grateful to have competed as a sprinter on the varsity Track and Field team. I met some of my closest friends through track. Studying abroad in
Copenhagen, Denmark was also a defining part of my Dickinson experience. I will never forget the many "firsts" I experienced there, as well as my amazing host family. Furthermore, getting to know students, faculty and staff through my roles in ResLife and SLCE has been a pleasure. I am grateful for their support throughout my time at Dickinson. Lastly, my role as a tour guide in the
Liberty Cap Society has been outstanding. The entire Admissions staff is so supportive, especially Michelle Fisher and Charisse Niles.
Internship Experience
I was fortunate enough to complete three internships while at Dickinson. As an undergraduate researcher at the Nemours/Alfred I. duPoint Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del., an orthopedic surgeon and I studied how telemedicine could reduce unnecessary ambulance transfers for orthopedic trauma patients. I also interned as the student orientation director at Dickinson; in this role, I helped plan first-year and transfer student orientation for those who enrolled in the Fall of 2019. Lastly, as a behavioral health specialist with Fizika Group (a social enterprise started by a Dickinson alumna based in Lancaster, Pa.), I helped support current users of the company's wellness platform for seniors, Fizikaflex.
Elisa Martinez
Majors: biochemistry & molecular biology, neuroscience
Hometown: Gurnee, Illinois
Employer: Tempus Labs
Job title: clinical abstractor
Job Responsibilities
For medical research purposes or to create medical recognition programs, medical abstractors analyze and compile medical information based on paper and electronic charts; patient and physician interviews; and various other sources. In this position, you examine codes and charts, and investigate information that might be missing. Using your coding and research skills, you compile reports that help researchers or physicians prevent diseases or recognize common characteristics for life-threatening diseases.
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
I have learned so many research techniques and feel confident in my science background. I feel ready for a science or medical based job.
What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?
I am excited to apply to medical school this summer.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
I enjoyed my extracurriculars and finding people who shared the same passions or interests as me.
Internship Experience
Neuroscience research program at the University of Minnesota - Completed original research on the function of mitochondria in the development of Huntington’s disease pathology.
Channing Pooley
Major: neuroscience
Hometown: Yarmouth, Maine
Employer: Massachusetts General Hospital
Job title: lab technician
Job Responsibilities
Working in the Suva Lab doing single-celled genomic research on brain tumors.
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
Dickinson gave me friends who quickly became family. I know I can rely on the support system that I built while at Dickinson, and it will undoubtedly carry on for years after school.
What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?
I'm excited to do research in a lab for a few years before going on to medical school.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
My advisors and faculty mentors played a huge role in my Dickinson experience, they've constantly been there for me and supported me from the start. I know I'll always be able to ask them for help or advice and that's incredibly reassuring moving forward.
Internship Experience
I had a research internship during the summer of 2019 at Maine Medical Partners Pediatric Neurology and Maine Medical Center Neonatal ICU in Portland, Maine. I did a retrospective research study on data collected from newborns treated with therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
Katie Koczirka
Majors: biochemistry & molecular biology, neuroscience
Hometown: Westwood, Massachusetts
Employer: Boston Children's Hospital
Job title: research assistant
Job Responsibilities
Evaluating melanoma and hematopoiesis in zebrafish models.
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
Provided access to student-faculty research, taught me the importance of engaging with mentors, helped learn to think creatively and critically, encouraged me to be independent.
What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?
I'm excited to learn about a field I am deeply interested in. Not only do I expect to be challenged, but to grow intellectually.
Internship Experience
Boston Children's Hospital
- Used zebrafish to investigate how lineage specific transcription factors direct the binding of signaling transcription factors to enhancer regions on chromatin.
- Worked to establish a line of zebrafish reporters for the visualization of melanoma cells with activated TGF-b signaling using zebrafish microinjection, electroporation and fluorescent microscopy.
