2018-2019 Departmental Fellows

Hometown: Urbana, IL

I knew I would major in biology before I even applied to college, but I was not expecting the breadth of inspiring experiences that are offered by the Denison University Biology Department. In my courses, I have been extremely fortunate to explore a wide range of topics from genomics to animal behavior, while learning current techniques and cutting-edge theories. I used to dread journal discussions and self-designed experiments, but today, these approaches are second nature. They have propelled me out of my comfort zone to develop fundamental skills for my future career. I have been encouraged to pursue my interests while developing new curiosities in the biology curriculum.

Additionally, the personal relationships that I have made with my peers have been instrumental in allowing me to grow as a person, challenge my beliefs, and develop my critical thinking. Every year, I have worked either as a TA, tutor, or lab assistant in the department, which has allowed me to become very close with faculty and staff. I cannot express how profoundly important these mentorships and friendships have been and will continue to be for me. These professors are truly my role models and have driven me to become not only an inquisitive scientist, but also a skilled leader and well-rounded human being. My research with Dr. Rhodes on cephalopod chemosensation has been my most meaningful research experience. This project has opened my eyes to a plethora of future opportunities and has been indispensable in my preparations for a gap year before pursuing my PhD.

I am extremely honored to be a Senior Fellow and to have had the chance to engage with this department in classwork, research, and tutoring positions over the past four years, while building meaningful friendships along the way. I am sincerely grateful and will carry these experiences with me throughout my life.

Hometown: Arlington Heights, IL

As a Freshman I was interested in Biology and intended to major in it. However, I had no idea the opportunities and experiences the Biology Department would grant me here at Denison. From challenging my beliefs about the inner workings of life to providing me with the opportunity to conduct research and participate in STEM outreach, the Biology Department has sparked a passion in me for Biology. I hope to bring this passion with me to graduate school to further my education in Biology.

I want to thank my professors for mentoring me during my time at Denison, challenging me intellectually, and allowing me the freedom to pursue my interests. I can confidently say without the support of the Biology Department faculty I would not be where I am today. Furthermore, this Department has fostered a truly unique, welcoming learning community that I am grateful to have been a part of. I am honored to have been selected as a Senior Fellow and encourage every student interested in Biology to make this Department their home.

Hometown: La Grange, IL

There aren’t adequate words to describe what the field of biology and the Denison biology department mean to me or the way that they have shaped me as a student, a scholar, a researcher, and developed my creative mind. The biology department very intentionally cultivates an environment in students are encouraged to take their learning outside of the traditional lecture and lab. Some of my fondest memories are running around the Bio Reserve on the weekends collecting plant specimens for plant systematics and mentoring students as a TA and Biosphere tutor. As a discipline, biology ask that we look at our world honestly and try to make sense of its infinite complexity. My coursework has demanded that I think critically and challenge my thought patterns to dive deep into the data and literature. Denison’s focus on the liberal arts and the departments commitment to integrate other disciplines to the curriculum has provided me with a set of tools that will take me well beyond graduation. When I think about my future beyond Denison and the type of doctor I aspire to be, I know that it is because of the friends and mentors I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by in Talbot.

I am forever grateful to Dr. Hauk for opening my eyes to the wonderful world of plants. I literally see the world differently because of plant systematics and think more critically because of you. I am not entirely sure what compelled Dr. Thompson to allow me to join his lab in the Summer of 2016, but I am so appreciative for the opportunity. With his mentorship, I have learned new skills, gained autonomy and confidence in lab, in addition to cultivating my creative and solutions-oriented mind as a researcher. Any description of my time in the biology department would be incomplete without mentioning my lab partner, Rachel Reardon. From our first summer on campus all the way through our senior theses, she has been by my side providing support, comradery, and a laugh. All the thanks in the world to my incredible parents for encouraging me to be intellectually curious and for their steadfast support; I love you both so much!

Hometown: Midland, MI

A fun fact about me: I thought I hated science until I was about 17 years old! It wasn’t until my AP biology class in high school that I finally started to warm up to the subject, but my love for biology flourished at Denison from the first class I took. All the faculty in this department are remarkably talented scientists and passionate teachers. From them, I gained not only a nuanced understanding of everything from action potentials to allopatric speciation, but also a deep appreciation for the discovery of knowledge – particularly knowledge that helps us understand and feel compassion towards each other and the world we inhabit. The highlight of my time in Talbot has been my years of work in Dr. Jeff Thompson’s research lab. I will be forever grateful that he decided to take a chance on the freshman student who wandered into his office asking about how to get involved in a research project one day, because it is without a doubt that his consistent guidance, encouragement, patience, enthusiasm, and mentorship have shaped me into the student and person I am today. He saw passion and ability in me that I didn’t know were there, and I am so thankful for the confidence that he instilled in me by always pushing me forward. Dr. Thompson’s lab is also where I met Amanda, my lab partner of three years, who has become one of my closest friends. I can always count on her to give me a fresh perspective on life – and to remind me to laugh between pipetting.

My experiences as a tutor and TA have been another key part of my time in the biology department. It is so rewarding to share the knowledge and tips that I’ve received with other students, and to see the spark of excitement and understanding in their eyes when things click. My passions for science and connecting with others have led me to pursue a career in medicine, and from my time in the biology department, I hope that this will ultimately involve working in medical education. I am so grateful for the lessons I have learned in Talbot, in every setting from lectures, labs and office hours, to tutoring, mentoring, and late-night “study” sessions with classmates. The biology department has given me skills in critical thinking, creative problem solving, persistence, and intellectual curiosity – but most of all, it has given me a home and an incredible support system during my time on the hill.

Hometown: Hudson, OH

Coming into Denison I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. As a first-year student, I thought that my path forward included earning a degree in my other interest of mathematics. I quickly changed my mind, however, as I proceeded through the biology core. Never would I have imagined myself as the faculty relations coordinator for the Denison University Biological Society (DUBS), or that I would discover a love for researching sea urchins. My professors encouraged me to be a tutor, a teaching assistant, and even helped to publish my work twice. I am very appreciative that the biology department enabled me to discover new interests while also preparing me for graduate school.

Denison Biology is deeply invested in its students, and I consider myself very fortunate to have found a home in this department. Over the last four years I have enjoyed volunteering with Granville Intermediate School students, playing in the student-staff volleyball/ bowling events, and conducting summer research with Team Urchin. Research with Dr. Romano has made me a strong critical thinker and allowed me to present at the Society for Developmental Biology Midwest Conference. A rigorous curriculum including Cancer Biology, Genetics, and Developmental Biology, along with these experiences has certainly prepared me for my next step in earning my Master of Science in Anesthesia. The lessons that my biology professors have taught me here will stick with me for years to come.