Why did you choose graduate school at IUPUI?
IUSM was the best option for me because they had a well-established Indiana Institute of Personalized Medicine. Being part of the IU School of Medicine with several hospitals nearby, this program provided vast opportunities to do translational research and interact with clinical faculty.
Through the IUSM Biomedical Gateway (IBMG) umbrella program, I was able to do rotations before joining a lab and department at the end of the first year. This allowed me to continue exploring different areas of research as well as reconfirm my interests in personalized medicine.
What’s been your favorite academic accomplishment since you’ve been here?
Publishing my first first-author research paper in our society’s journal, Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics is my favorite academic accomplishment. Prior to graduate school and after starting, it seemed pretty unanimous that papers, but especially first-author papers, were really important for receiving funding, jobs, etc., so my very first one was a time for celebration.
What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?
I enjoy that Indianapolis has all the perks of a big city, without the big city environment (traffic). There is everything to do here! Professional and amateur sports, music, cultural and food festivals, museums, great restaurants and so much more. I love to eat, so my favorite event is Devour Downtown which occurs twice a year where many restaurants downtown offer 3-course meals at a discounted price.