Olivia
Olivia was drawn to Northwestern’s belief in a multifaceted education, and it was through her mission to explore any and all her passions that she became involved in conducting research both in Polish Studies and Biochemistry.
“Being a first-generation Polish-American, conducting research on the history of Poles in Chicago was a unique, meaningful way to honor and learn more about the culture that shapes my family’s identity. My true academic passion, however, is biochemistry! Conducting research in that field, then, felt very natural. I worked in the Meade Lab, where I researched cobalt complexes as inhibitors of cancer-causing cellular pathways. Improving treatment options for difficult-to-treat diseases (like cancer) is one of my greatest life ambitions. Although both projects were fueled by my deepest interests and passions, they were largely unrelated and the methodology I used for each was very different, too. It was an incredible way to broaden my skill set and become more comfortable with the differences between research in the humanities and life sciences. I’m very grateful that the OUR, like Northwestern, supports students’ ability to pursue varying interests, no matter the motivation or relatedness. Next fall, I’ll be starting the Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics PhD program at the University of Chicago and feel prepared for the demands of independent research. The positive experiences I’ve had as an undergraduate researcher at NU are a big reason for my decision to pursue a PhD in the first place!”