Teresa Lee
Class of 2007
Genetics, Genomics, and Development
Grad students here are given the freedom to pursue their interests, to explore rotations with as broad or narrow a focus as they want, and to establish collaborations that drive their projects forward. I found that, even in the bars after midnight, current students were just as eager to share their latest experimental results as they were to talk about their weekend skiing trip.
Moving from one coast to another can be surprising in unexpected ways (who knew that hushpuppies were a regional food?) – but coming to Berkeley was definitely the right decision for me. I first applied to Berkeley because of its incredible reputation and all-encompassing program, but I choose to join the MCB department because of the connections I made with professors and my future colleagues during recruitment.
During that weekend, I saw how everyone in the department cared passionately about their science. Grad students here are given the freedom to pursue their interests, to explore rotations with broad or narrow a focus as they want, and to establish collaborations that drive their projects forward. I found that, even in the bars after midnight, current students were just as eager to share their latest experimental results as they were to talk about their weekend skiing trip.
Indeed, with seminars every day of the week, numerous journal clubs, and five department retreats a year, it seems as if the scientific conversation never stops. We are truly the heart of the MCB department – I’ve had opportunities to represent grad student concerns at faculty meetings, weigh in on admissions decisions, and help organize a prominent seminar series. This illustrates how the faculty in MCB respect us as intellectual peers, which fosters a community that allows scientific inquiry to flourish.
In my four years here, I’ve learned how our department understands that science is only as good as the communication that occurs between scientists. My project in the Meyer lab examines how meiotic chromosome architecture can regulate the formation of crossovers. To carry out my experiments, I’ve utilized cytological, genetic, molecular, and genomic approaches. During recruitment, you'll hear that our department’s strength is the breadth of its research – but trust me: that fact really hits home when you're seeking help with conditions for ChIP-seq or looking for the best approach to single-molecule imaging. I feel lucky to be surrounded by those who are pushing the boundaries of current technologies and who’re more than happy to help.
Undergraduate University: University of North Carolina
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