Jacob FrenchmanBIOSC Senior and pre-med student Hey everyone! It’s Jacob, one of the peer advisors. I am a senior Biological Sciences major hoping to attend Medical School after I graduate. I am pursuing a minor in chemistry and a certificate in the Conceptual Foundations of medicine. One of the most rewarding activities I have been involved with here at Pitt has been serving as a Teaching Assistant because I benefited greatly from my TAs, and relish in the fact that I can now help peers that are in the same position as I was. I love to share my passion for science with my students and hopefully this passion will encourage them to explore it themselves. I first started being a TA in the fall semester of my sophomore year as a Foundations of Biology teaching assistant. I had never been involved in teaching before, but it seemed like a fun way to challenge myself and help my peers. As the semester went on, working as a teaching assistant became even more fun because I met lots of new people and built lasting relationships with students, peers, and my professor. However, TAing definitely has not been easy. After my first few office hours, it became abundantly clear that knowing biology was not enough to be an effective TA, the confusion on my students’ faces was apparent, and the sessions left all of us feeling disappointed. Learning to teach material I am passionate about has not only challenged my understanding of the material I teach, but also my ability to communicate with others. These challenges are what make the teaching experience so much fun for me. Along with my fellow Foundations of Biology UTAs, I led recitations, created homework problems, and held weekly (in-person) office hours! It was so exciting (and at first, intimidating!) to stand in front of the class and work through questions with the students. The weekly sessions around the Hillman library whiteboards, and Wednesday night Clapp L9 recitations, are memories I will always cherish and seeing the joy in my peers’ eyes when they score well on exams is one of my favorite feelings. However, when the pandemic thrust us all into a world of uncertainty, we traded the Hillman whiteboard for the zoom whiteboard. While the environment was much different, it felt like a renewed challenge. After over a year of zoom office hours, I am so excited to be back in the classroom working as a UTA. This time, however, I am teaching Organic Chemistry in Chevron. While these classes differ, the satisfaction of hearing about my students’ successes is universal. Now that I am a senior, some of students I used to teach have also became UTAs alongside me and my older peers. It is such an amazing feeling to see this exponential impact and pay forward the help I received. For any of my peers looking to try their hand at teaching and mentorship, I highly recommend getting involved as a UTA. If you want to talk more about becoming a UTA or want to talk about anything BIOSC or non-BIOSC make an appointment with Madison or me and swing by our Monday 3-4 PM Office hours in Clapp Hall (Clapp L1)!
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Eric JordahlSenior Molecular Biology (Cell & Developmental Biology) major & pre-PhD As first semester seniors, my friends and I are all in the same mindset, “What’s next?”. It is quite scary for us to think about a life outside of Pitt, away from our friends and comfort zones, into the workforce, medical school, or graduate school. I know for a long time, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted to be a medical doctor, a pediatric cardiologist, to be exact. I wanted to work in a hospital, see patients, and meet new people every day, helping to treat what ails them. Don’t get me wrong, this is still a life I could see myself in, but it is not the life that I want anymore. Since November of my freshman year (2018), I have been a member of the O’Donnell Lab, a molecular and cell biology lab in the Department of Biological Sciences. Since joining this lab, even when working as a lab aide, not a researcher, I have found a home. I sincerely enjoy all things research, from reading papers to cell culturing, I certainly found my niche. Anyone who knows me, knows that I can talk about my research for hours and never get tired of it, but I won’t subject you all to that here. What I have learned about myself from these experiences, however, is that I was not on the right path when I was only pre-med. It may have been right for someone else, but not for me. With that said, I thought the right path for me was pursuing an MD and a PhD. For a long time, this was it, I had finally found the right thing for me, a mixture of the career I once thought that I wanted, and the research I fell in love with. I spent almost all of sophomore year and the beginning of junior year thinking that this was the right path for me. It was not until I did some reflecting last year after a summer research fellowship that I realized this was not meant for me either. Now, I am a first semester senior looking towards graduate school to get my PhD in Cell or Molecular Biology. I can honestly say, I never would have thought of myself as someone to change paths 3 different times since entering undergrad. I was so sure that medicine was the right direction for me, but now I look back and smile at the prospect of it. I held onto the idea that I was supposed to be a doctor for so long, not because it was what I wanted, but because I had been told it was the right path, and I believed it. I guess what I have learned and will pass on as advice is really do not let anyone else decide your path for you. If you feel something itching at you saying, “this is not right”, listen to it. I now am taking the next strides toward applying to graduate programs for after graduation. However, this process is one that is much less clearly outlined than that of applying to medical school. Many schools have different requirements than others: for example some require the GRE, but most no longer require it. Some schools have a common application base, like applying to undergrad (except for at Pitt), but many do not. This is a road that I must really take my time on, and make sure that I am fully prepared to venture down this path with my head on straight, eyes on the goal ahead of me. I am happy to be putting myself out there, but it comes with much anxiety too. I am constantly asking questions, “Is my GPA too low? Am I involved enough” Are my Recommendation Letters good enough?” and so much more. The best advice I have heard, no matter how cliché it is, is to truly take it one day at a time. If you jump too far forward, you are bound to lose your footing somewhere. So, plant your feet, set yourself a strong base, and walk this line one day at a time, not forgetting your goal destination. I know I will be! I am happy to speak to anyone who wants to reach out and has any questions about my journey, me, my research, or just want to talk to someone who they think shares a common experience. Please feel free to reach out, my email is [email protected] Madison PalmieroBIOSC Senior and Pre-PA The Certificate in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine (CFM) is offered by Pitt’s department of History and Philosophy of Science. A certificate, like a minor, is a great addition to your degree and can be a great way to satisfy gen-eds. Unlike a minor, a certificate is usually inter-departmental - requiring classes from multiple departments. The CFM certificate consists of 18 credits and can be easily incorporated into even a busy schedule. The focus on the conceptual and social side of medicine offers an invaluable perspective for anyone wishing to pursue a career in the health professions. Requirements The two main courses required for this certificate are Mind and Medicine (HPS 0612) and Morality and Medicine (HPS 0613), which satisfies the Philosophical Thinking gen-ed. Another requirement is a two-term biology course, which is easy to fulfill as a biology major! Lastly, you need two elective courses that deal with historical, social, or conceptual topics related to biomedical sciences. These courses can be taken from a variety of departments, which allows you to add something different to your schedule. The HPS website has a full list of approved courses, but here are some examples: Anthropology of Food (ANTH 1752), Intro to Health Economics (ECON 0220), Drugs in Global History (HIST 1706), Psychology of Personality (PSY 0160), and Medical Sociology (SOC 0477). Many of these electives satisfy gen-ed requirements! Each course must be passed with a C letter grade, and the average for all required courses should be a C+ or higher. My Experience I heard about this certificate fall semester of sophomore year, which was my first semester at Pitt. I had already taken a two-term biology course at the college I transferred from, and one of the electives I was taking that semester happened to be on the list of approved electives for the certificate. This meant that I only needed three more classes to fulfill the certificate requirements, which I thought I could easily work into my schedule for my remaining two years. The elective course I took that semester was Introduction to Biomedical Ethics (PHIL 0360), which was the first philosophy course I had ever taken. I enjoyed the class and realized that I liked learning about philosophy, especially when it related to my future career. During my fall semester junior year, I took Morality and Medicine with Dr. Sandra Mitchell, and it was one of my favorite courses I’ve taken at Pitt. As the name suggests, we discussed various ethical dilemmas, such as MD-assisted suicide, but we also discussed medicine in terms of social and political systems. During that same semester, I took Psychopathology (PSY 0205) as my second approved elective. Psychopathology was considered an upper level psychology class, and we discussed a wide variety of psychological diseases, but overall it was not a difficult class. This semester, I am currently taking Mind and Medicine with Dr. Jason Rampelt, and it has been great so far. My Advice I would strongly recommend this certificate program to anyone pursuing a career in the health professions. If you are considering this certificate, here are a few suggestions for planning which courses to take and when to take them.
Apart from being a nice addition to your resume and current major and minors, there is a lot that can be learned from this certificate and applied to a future career in medicine. As science majors, much of our focus is on the science side of medicine, but the conceptual side is important as well. Ethics and morality, along with the social and political aspects of medicine are great subjects to be knowledgeable about and aware of when pursuing a career in the health professions. Lori HuangBIOSC Senior & pre-med For students who are pre-med, clubs are something they may stress over as they try to figure out how to fluff up their future med school applications. As a pre-med student myself, that was something that was initially on my mind. However, I have found it much more fulfilling to join clubs that I actually like instead of something that “looks good.” It’s also much easier to talk and write about something you are truly passionate about if you are discussing your extracurriculars in med school interviews or applications anyways. In my case, my favorite extracurricular by far is The Pitt Pulse, Pitt’s Honors-affiliated science magazine. Besides obviously writing STEM articles and getting published (which is great too!), The Pitt Pulse also showcases beautiful designs made by the design department, which I have been the co-Art Director of since I was a sophomore. Funnily enough, I only joined at the suggestion of the then Dean of the Honors College, but I have since grown to love designing for the magazine over the past three years. Although the topics in the magazine are STEM-related, the process of making graphic designs for the articles allows you to exercise your creativity over the scientific rationality of the content. Even if you’re a STEM major, you can be artistic too! In terms of the design department, The Pitt Pulse meets three times for each magazine we publish (which is four times a year) to go over our rough drafts of designs for the articles and give design critiques. Designers use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign to bring their designs to life. If you don’t have any experience, it’s no problem! The other Art Director and I have uploaded training videos and the vast majority of our new designers who also have no experience have produced wonderful designs. The Pitt Pulse is a great club to learn skills in Adobe and be creative. It’s always rewarding to receive the physical manifestations of your work in magazine form at the end of the cycle (I’ve kept every single one!). The way that the cycles are designed also means that designing isn’t much of a time commitment if you’re a busy Biological Sciences major like me. You don’t have to design for every cycle either--just design when you have the time and when you want to. There’s no need to pile on more stress for you. If you’re interested, we are always happy to have new designers (or writers). While I can’t say much about the writing side of The Pitt Pulse I can say that I am very proud of the designers and what they’ve made throughout the years. If you enjoy graphic design as well, then I hope that you can be one of those designers too 😊 Lastly, if you have any questions, you can email me at [email protected]. You can visit our website at http://www.thepittpulse.org/ and find our magazines at the magazine stands scattered throughout campus (Hillman, Langley, Chevron, Scaife, and the Honors College). Mikaela BaratkaE&E Senior; pre-PhD Professors aren’t scary. In fact, they want you attending their office hours and asking questions so that they can gauge what content they may need to review more in depth to help you and your peers succeed. Their job is to make sure you leave the class with new knowledge, not feeling discouraged and like you didn’t learn anything. So how come when it comes to asking questions in class or during office hours our anxieties get the best of us and we freeze? Most likely you weren’t the only one in your 150-person lecture that didn’t quite understand a slide or concept, so why not just go and ask? I’m not a psychology major, so I can’t explain why our brains make us fear professors, but I am a student who has been there, so I can provide some tips on how to overcome that fear to ensure you do well in your classes. The general consensus seems to be that the scariest professors are the ones who teach the larger lectures. The good thing about this is that because they are teaching large courses, they almost certainly have some form of teaching assistant. Utilize them.
I found that first turning to UTAs (undergrad teaching assistant) in courses I was struggling with was much less intimidating, most likely because they are my peers. Instead of feeling whatever anxiety response I typically felt thinking about having to speak with a professor, it felt like I was studying with a friend with a better grasp on the content. Your UTAs have been in your shoes. They know what it takes to succeed in that particular course and most likely have tips to help you better understand that concept that seems to go over your head no matter how many times the professor goes over it in class. And they probably know the professor pretty well and can give some tips on talking with them! If you feel comfortable and still need some extra help, try to branch out to graduate TA office hours. They have more experience with the content and, at least to me, are far less intimidating because, in reality, they are only a few years older than you. Not to mention, their undergraduate career is not too far in their past, meaning they most likely remember how they felt when they needed to ask for help. In my experience, after a few weeks of utilizing TA and UTA office hours, suddenly talking to a professor seemed much less frightening. I think seeing how many resources a professor was providing me with to succeed made me realize that the judgment I once feared was all in my head. I recommend utilizing office hours for more than just exam prep as well. Stopping by for a few minutes to ask a clarifying question or double check your answer for a homework assignment is a great way to demonstrate to the instructors that you are putting in the effort. Better yet, you begin to build a rapport with them. In my personal experience, once I started utilizing all the types of office hours offered for a course, the next semester I was less afraid to ask for help. There are no stupid questions. Yes, everyone says that, but it’s true. If you think the question is too simple and you feel like you should know the answer already, that means you need to ask it sooner rather than later. Office hours are truly a judgment-free zone. Everyone learns in different ways, and maybe you need to be taught a concept differently than your peers. There is nothing wrong with that. Gopika RajanikanthBIOSC Senior, pre-genetic counseling There are a lot of requirements to become a competitive applicant for genetic counseling programs. One requirement that many programs emphasize is having “exposure” to the field of genetic counseling because they want applicants to have a clear understanding of what genetic counseling is before they apply. But what technically counts as exposure? The first experience that most people may think about is shadowing. Shadowing a genetic counselor is a great way to get exposure to what a genetic counselor does. However, even though Pittsburgh has many genetic counselors, it can be challenging to find shadowing opportunities, especially so in the midst of a pandemic. So, what else can you do to gain exposure to genetic counseling? Informational Interviews: Informational interviews involve speaking directly with a genetic counselor and asking them questions about their career. You could do this either in-person or virtually, so you’re not limited to your location like you may be with shadowing. How do you find genetic counselors to contact and ask for an interview? It’s actually pretty easy. You can go to the “Find a Genetic Counselor” page on the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) website and search for genetic counselors who allow student contact (use this link) and find their email addresses. Here, you’re able to filter by location and specialty so that you can talk to genetic counselors with a wide variety of experiences and work environments. Speaking one-on-one with a genetic counselor is a great way to learn more about the profession and if it’s right for you. Webinars: Because of the pandemic, many schools and organizations have been holding online webinars discussing genetic counseling and holding panels with genetic counselors across various specialties. These webinars usually have some time for Q&A, so it’s a great way to ask genetic counselors and program directors any questions you have about the profession or grad school applications. To find webinars, I recommend scrolling through #gcchat on Twitter because many programs and organizations will publicize their events there. Podcasts: There are many podcasts available that can give you a great insight into what genetic counseling is like. And some programs consider you taking the time to listen to these podcasts as exposure to genetic counseling. Some great podcasts include the NSGC Podcast Series, Patient Stories with Grey Genetics, DNA Today: A Genetics Podcast, and GC Chat: A Genetic Counseling Podcast. Genetic Counseling Club at Pitt: You can also join the Genetic Counseling Club here at Pitt! We provide a support network of students who all have the same goal of becoming a genetic counselor. In addition, we host panels with current genetic counselors and genetic counseling students, so it’s a good way to get more exposure to the field of genetic counseling. If you have any questions, contact us at [email protected] or feel free to schedule an appointment (through Navigate Student) to chat with me about the club. This semester we are lucky to have 11 bio peer advisors who are excited to share their experiences in the department and on campus. You can now schedule appointments with the Bio Peer Advisors through the Navigate Student app > choose Bio Peer Advising as your service type! Keep on reading to get to know your Peer Advisors before scheduling an appointment! Julianna Menendez Hi! I'm Julianna, a senior majoring in Biological Sciences! I'm from Northern PA by Lake Erie, and I'm hoping to follow up my time here with four more years of medical school. When I'm not taking bio courses, I'm either working at one of my 2 jobs or (safely) spending time with friends (: Hoping to help other students navigate to the best of my ability and share many of the resources, both academic and non-academic, that have helped me over the years! Madison Palmiero Hi everyone! I'm Madison and I am a senior biology major. I am on the pre-physician assistant track and will be applying to PA schools this spring. I'm from Meadville, Pennsylvania, which is about an hour and a half north of Pittsburgh. When I'm not in class I love going to the gym and spending time outside. This is my second year as a biology peer advisor, and I'm looking forward to getting to know you all! Gopika Rajanikanth My name is Gopika, and I’m originally from Northern Virginia. I’m currently a senior majoring in biological sciences, and I’m interested in becoming a genetic counselor. I also volunteer at Crisis Text Line and as a teaching assistant for adult students trying to get their GED. When I’m not working, I also enjoy reading and watching TV. Tyler Whitfield Hello! My name is Tyler Whitfield, and I am a fourth-year computational biology student here at Pitt. I am from Washington, Pennsylvania (about 30 minutes south of campus). After I graduate, I am hoping to continue my education in Dental School, using cutting-edge technology in the dental field. In my free time, I enjoy long distance running Kamron Woods Hi! My name is Kamron Woods and I am a senior microbiology major on the pre-MDPhD track. When I am not busy with bio classes I enjoy cooking, reading, running, and listening to music. This semester we are lucky to have 11 bio peer advisors who are excited to share their experiences in the department and on campus. You can now schedule appointments with the Bio Peer Advisors through the Navigate Student app > choose Bio Peer Advising as your service type! Keep on reading to get to know your Peer Advisors before scheduling an appointment! Mikaela Baratka Mikaela is a senior majoring in Ecology and Evolution and is originally from the suburbs of Philadelphia. Her goal is to earn a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology but will be taking some time off before graduate school to work in animal husbandry and conservation education. Mikaela is a brother and member of the executive board of Phi Sigma Pi as well as a mentor with Strong Women Strong Girls. Maia Brown Hey everyone! My name is Maia Brown and I am a junior microbiology major with sociology and chemistry minors. I am currently on the pre-med track with the hopes of going to medical school! Outside of my classes, I do research, volunteer, and I am active in Pitt’s Greek Life! Riya Desai Hi! My name is Riya Desai, and I am from Exton, PA (outside of Philly). I am a Molecular Biology and Psychology double major on the pre-med track. Extracurricular wise, I’m involved with Steel City Raas, Phi Delta Epsilon, KDSAP, and MedLife as well as am a volunteer at UPMC Shadyside and an undergraduate researcher at a neurosurgery lab. Outside of school, I enjoy being with friends and family, cooking, traveling, and binge-watching Netflix shows. Jacob Frenchman Hey everyone, my name is Jacob Frenchman, and I am from a small farm town in Northwest New Jersey called Long Valley. I am a senior here and am pursuing a degree in biological sciences with a minor in Chemistry and a certificate in the Conceptual Foundations of Medicine. After graduation, I hope to attend medical school. When not studying for class, I love to cook, play soccer, and listen to Bruce Springsteen. Lori Huang I'm a senior majoring in Biological Sciences (pre-med track) with minors in Korean and Chemistry. I like to play Stardew Valley when I have free time and play Settlers of Catan with my friends. Eric Jordahl Eric is a 4th year undergraduate student pursuing a double major in Molecular and Cell Biology and Classics. He performs research in the O’Donnell Lab in the department of Biological Sciences studying the protein trafficking adaptors, the α-arrestins. After graduation, he will be pursuing a PhD in Cell Biology or Molecular Biology. Check back next week to meet your other Bio Peer Advisors!
Madison PalmieroBIOSC Junior and Pre-PA We are at that point in the semester where stress may be overwhelming our lives. Taking the last midterm of the semester, submitting the final paper or project, preparing for final exams. We all want to be done, but there is still more studying to do and more due dates to meet. Also, we are still in the midst of a pandemic! When the pressure starts to build, it is important to take time to check in with yourself. If you are feeling stressed out by the demands of school, you are not alone. Stress can have consequences on our emotional, mental, and physical health. However, there are many ways to manage and relieve stress; your goal should be to find which methods work best for you. Here are three ideas for relieving stress that you can try out today. 1. Go outside When classes were in person, we all had to walk around campus to get to different buildings. Now, we don’t even have to leave our room. Fresh air is good for the body. Look up at the sky instead of staring at a computer screen. Taking time to enjoy the outdoors will give you a chance to clear your mind. Pittsburgh is home to many green spaces and parks where you can do just this. Schenley Plaza is conveniently located at the heart of Pitt’s campus. There are tables as well as a large lawn where you can sit and feel the spring breeze. There is even WiFi, if you want to get some studying in. With just a short walk from campus, you can access the 456 acres of outdoor space that make up Schenley Park. Enjoy the views of the city, while still being surrounded by nature. Visit this website to learn more about the other parks that Pittsburgh has to offer. (https://www.pittsburghparks.org/your-pgh-parks ) Many parks are easily accessible through the port authority buses, which are free to ride with a Pitt ID. 2. Get active Another great way to relieve stress is to do something active. Stress can cause tension in our bodies that we don’t even realize is there. Movement benefits our bodies and our minds. Take a walk, go for a run, go to the gym, or even attend a yoga class. Pitt has multiple recreation facilities on campus that are open for student use. Use this link to book a time slot at the recreation center of your choice. https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/campus-recreation/facilities-and-hours/book-a-time-slot/ If you are interested in yoga, which is a great activity for stress relief, here are two great options for you. The Stress-Free Zone at Pitt is offering free yoga classes through zoom. Classes are scheduled for Mondays at 8:00 pm and Thursdays at 6:00 pm. Use this link to register. https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/shs/stressfree/classes-and-workshops/ If you prefer a non-virtual option, free yoga classes are offered in some area parks around town. Bring your own yoga mat, or just a towel, and don’t forget a face covering. For more details, see the link below. https://www.pittsburghparks.org/park-events 3. Take time for yourself It is not healthy to spend all of your time on schoolwork! Give your brain a break. Do something that you enjoy. This could be spending time with friends, watching a movie, reading a book, or even taking a nap. Don’t feel guilty for taking time away from school. Remember, grades matter, but your mental health is so much more important. Jacob FrenchmanBIOSC Junior and pre-med student I can imagine that, like me, lots of my fellow Biology peers are also studying for their MCAT, DAT, GRE, or PCAT right now during classes. Honestly, I have been planning to study for the MCAT spring of my Junior year ever since I became aware of the "typical" medical application process. When COVID happened, I assumed that online classes would be a blessing for my MCAT semester; however, taking all of my classes in my room AND studying for the MCAT definitely has been a new beast entirely. My method for tackling this situation has been to make a schedule and fill in as many of my responsibilities as I can on my weekly calendar to keep track of things- I even fill in time for lunch, exercising, and office hours because it can be really easy to get overwhelmed. One technique I found on YouTube which helps me stay productive throughout the day is to plan out tomorrow’s goals on a sticky note the night before. I then put this sticky note on my desk and cross things off as I complete them- I know that this could be accomplished using the Reminders app or an Agenda, but I enjoy the novelty of the classic yellow sticky note! Sometimes, if I feel like I need extra motivation that day I will include my classes and exercise on the sticky note so I can get the added satisfaction of crossing off another task :) Another thing that has worked for me in terms of studying is to do most of my MCAT work in the morning before classes. I then use my classes as a natural break from studying and as a transition into regular schoolwork in the afternoons and evenings. Also, I created a schedule based on weekly goals for my MCAT prep instead of strict deadlines which gives me a bit more freedom day-by-day. This has proved critical for me because inevitably other work for classes can require time that I’d usually use for the MCAT. I also try to spend my time studying for Physics and Biochemistry efficiently, actively interacting with the content and attending office hours in the hopes that it will help me better understand the physics and biochemistry questions on the MCAT. The most important thing that I am actively striving for during this semester of graduate exam preparation is balance. It’s a challenge to balance school, extracurriculars, and personal health, but it is extremely important for us as people and for our future success. I often find myself feeling guilty about taking an occasional evening off to hang out with my roommates instead of studying but these sessions are important for mental health AND for academic success. One thing that we all learn from balancing schoolwork and studying for graduate exam simultaneously is the importance of setting boundaries between relaxing and studying to help with long-term success.! If you want to talk work-life balance, exam prep, or schedules (it’s that time of year again) swing by my office hours on Wednesdays from 1-2 PM! |
Pitt Bio BlogThe Pitt Bio Blog is maintained by the Department of Biological Sciences Advising Office. Posts are authored by our students Archives
January 2022
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