Research Assistant and UW Fellow for Academic Excellence

PhD in Pathobiology

Please tell us a little bit about yourself. 

I was born and raised in Seattle so I have a special place for the UW in my heart. Like many Seattleites I love outdoor activities like running, hiking, and rock climbing. Honestly, I studied some random things in my undergrad at McGill University (at least in the context of my Ph.D. subject--I studied chemistry and religious studies) but I really appreciate that I was able to train in two very different intellectual frameworks, both the mechanism-forward chemistry thinking as well as a more anthropological methodology. I love taking the interdisciplinary approach to academic problems, and I think the Pathobiology Graduate Program at the UW really embodies that. I've always had a passion for studying disease and especially viruses. I think it's awesome that these tiny molecules that aren't even alive can cause so many problems for humans, and the fact that they evolve so much faster than us but we can still find ways to fight them is just so interesting to me.

Why did you decide to attend the UW for graduate school?

I think I answered a lot of these questions already, but I love Seattle and was primarily looking to be here, near my family. Plus, the life sciences and public health research at the UW is amazing.

What are your research interests and career goals?

I believe I wrote a lot about this in the first question but I'm interested in studying viruses and host-pathogen interactions, particularly from an evolutionary lens. For career goals, I'm not completely sure yet exactly what I want to do, but I love research and definitely want to continue doing that as long as I can.

When you aren't studying, where is your favorite place to hangout in Seattle?

Vertical World! I don't have many hobbies but I love rock climbing, so if I'm not in the lab or home, I'm probably at a climbing gym.