Q. What aspects of your MCB degree program best helped you prepare for your career?
A. My coursework and research experience was vital to my path toward doctoral studies. Concentrating on a specific subject also helped me narrow my interests and focus my research.
Q. How did you decide on your current career path?
A. I have always been called towards biological research, particularly marine biological research. I chose my specific program, the University of Chicago & Marine Biological Laboratory joint program because I am interested in exploring the biology of marine life that has yet to be researched. In particular, my work on cephalopods at UC Berkeley in the Caldwell Laboratory focused my interests on cephalopods. I am currently aiming to study an adenosine deaminase (ADAR1) in cephalopods that is highly active in deaminating adenosines in coding regions in mRNA transcripts. Funnily enough, this topic was first introduced to me in MCB110 by Dr. Nicholas Ingolia.
Q. Share your favorite Berkeley lunch place, coffee shop, landmark study spot...etc.
A. My favorite Berkeley lunch place is Butcher's Son, and I love studying at the tables outside of Latimer.