Class Of 2023

I am from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. I had the privilege of working in Dr. Karen Fleming’s lab since Junior year studying outer membrane protein folding in gram-negative bacteria. Working with the Fleming lab has been nothing short of amazing. Every graduate student and scientist in the lab was welcoming and friendly from day one. They have created such a caring space and I have fostered such close and unique bonds with everyone.

Coincidentally, Dr. Fleming also taught my favorite class at Hopkins which was an advanced seminar on membrane protein structure, folding, and pharmacology. Throughout the class, I learned how to efficiently read research papers, recreate figures, and present a topic I was interested in. The entire time Dr. Fleming checked in with students, accommodated us when we were stressed, and was our biggest supporter for the semester.

My favorite memory was my BURF poster presentation because I was able to engage in discussions with different faculty members that I had not met before and made connections with other undergrads who had recently joined the major. It felt rewarding to meet and talk to everyone while I explained my research to others in similar fields. I also had the opportunity to watch my friends present their work and I heard about their research experiences. Next year, I will be in Boston working as a medical scribe for a dermatologist while I apply for medical school. I hope to take my experiences and knowledge from Hopkins with me in this next phase of my life.