• Skip to Content
  • Skip to Main Navigation
  • Skip to Search

IUPUI IUPUI IUPUI

Open Search
  • About
    • Graduate Office Events, Programs & Resources
      • Graduate Expo at IUPUI
        • Attendee Information
        • Recruiter Information
      • Getting You Into IUPUI
    • Student Successes
      • Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Doctoral Scholars
      • Student Awards
    • Commitment to Diversity
    • Emissaries
      • IUPUI Graduate Emissaries for Student Diversity
    • Measures of Quality
    • Student Demographics
      • Doctoral - Research Student Data
    • Contact Us
  • Application & Admissions
    • Graduate Programs
      • Accelerated Degrees
    • Graduate Non-Degree Program
    • Future Student FAQs
    • About IUPUI
    • Visit IUPUI
    • How to Apply
    • Tuition & Fees
    • Testing
    • Reduced Tuition for Nonresidents
      • Nonresident Tuition Award Participating Programs
    • Financial Support
      • Fellowships & Awards
      • Travel Fellowships
      • Student Loans
      • Tax Information
  • Academics & Research
    • IU Graduate Bulletin
    • Responsible Conduct and Ethics
    • Timeline for Graduation
    • IU Degree, Transcript, Diploma/Certificate
  • Theses & Dissertations
    • Deadlines
    • Submission Methods
      • Master's
      • Doctoral
    • Formatting
    • Defense
      • IU Dissertation Defense Announcements
  • Student Life & Support
    • Getting Oriented
    • Preparing Future Faculty and Professional Program
      • Events and Resources
      • 3MT and 3MP Competitions
    • IUPUI Graduate Mentoring Center
    • IUPUI Graduate Commons
    • Graduate and Professional Student Organizations
      • Grad Parent Network
    • CIRTL at IUPUI
    • Research Funding
    • Campus Transportation
    • Campus Safety
    • Health & Wellness
    • Health Insurance
    • Child Care
    • Housing
    • IUPUI Dining Services
    • Technology
    • Disability Services
    • Virtual Resources
      • Virtual Resources for Current Students
      • Virtual Resources for Prospective Students
  • Faculty & Staff Resources
    • Graduate Affairs Committee
      • Fellowship Subcommittee
      • Curriculum Subcommittee
    • Curriculum & Academic Programs
      • Degree Proposals
        • Graduate or Professional Degree Program
        • Graduate or Professional Degree Certificate
        • Graduate or Professional Degree Sub Plans (tracks, transcripts)
        • Propose Accelerated or Dual Degree
        • Graduate or Professional Degree Minor
        • Changes to Existing Degrees
      • Add or Change Courses to Curriculum
      • Academic Reviews
    • Graduate Recruitment Council
    • Graduate Faculty Council
    • Membership to Graduate Faculty
    • Policies
    • Mentor Graduate Students
    • Guides and Job Aids
  • Forms
  • Purdue Graduate Students

Indiana University Graduate School Indianapolis

  • Home
  • About
    • Graduate Office Events, Programs & Resources
    • Student Successes
    • Commitment to Diversity
    • Emissaries
    • Measures of Quality
    • Student Demographics
    • Contact Us
  • Application & Admissions
    • Graduate Programs
    • Graduate Non-Degree Program
    • Future Student FAQs
    • About IUPUI
    • Visit IUPUI
    • How to Apply
    • Tuition & Fees
    • Testing
    • Reduced Tuition for Nonresidents
    • Financial Support
  • Academics & Research
    • IU Graduate Bulletin
    • Responsible Conduct and Ethics
    • Timeline for Graduation
    • IU Degree, Transcript, Diploma/Certificate
  • Theses & Dissertations
    • Deadlines
    • Submission Methods
    • Formatting
    • Defense
  • Student Life & Support
    • Getting Oriented
    • Preparing Future Faculty and Professional Program
    • IUPUI Graduate Mentoring Center
    • IUPUI Graduate Commons
    • Graduate and Professional Student Organizations
    • CIRTL at IUPUI
    • Research Funding
    • Campus Transportation
    • Campus Safety
    • Health & Wellness
    • Health Insurance
    • Child Care
    • Housing
    • IUPUI Dining Services
    • Technology
    • Disability Services
    • Virtual Resources
  • Faculty & Staff Resources
    • Graduate Affairs Committee
    • Curriculum & Academic Programs
    • Graduate Recruitment Council
    • Graduate Faculty Council
    • Membership to Graduate Faculty
    • Policies
    • Mentor Graduate Students
    • Guides and Job Aids
  • Forms
  • Search
  • Purdue Graduate Students
  • Home
  • About
  • Student Successes
  • IUPUI School of Science
  • Frankie Wilke

Frankie Wilke

For me, it’s the people! Since moving here, everyone has been incredibly kind. There is always someone willing to help you out when you need it, join you on exploring the city, and to make sure you never feel alone.

Ph.D. in Biology

Why did you choose graduate school at IUPUI?

Forensic research has always been a big passion of mine. To pursue this passion, I applied for PhD positions in various locations around the world, hoping to get the opportunity to work with a leading professor in the field. I had a particular interest with bioinformatics, and since Dr. Susan Walsh’s research involved bioinformatics with forensic applications, I was honored when she asked me to join her lab at IUPUI. Here, I can be creative while working with cutting edge research. Although the move from Germany to the United States in 2020 was a big change, and especially challenging with the COVID-19 pandemic, the IUPUI community and my lab group has become my home away from home.

What has been your favorite academic accomplishment since you’ve been here?

Presenting at the 29th Congress of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG) has been a highlight academic accomplishment. The ISFG is one of the largest forensic genetics conferences, so I was honored to be accepted as one of the 60 oral presentations. It was exhilarating and terrifying to present to over 700 colleagues, but my presentation was shortlisted for best presentation, and I was awarded a travel fellowship to attend more conferences. This conference was a coveted learning experience and opportunity to network with other students and leading experts in the field.

What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?

For me, it’s the people! Since moving here, everyone has been incredibly kind. There is always someone willing to help you out when you need it, join you on exploring the city, and to make sure you never feel alone

Please provide some details about your work/research as a graduate student and/or any activities you are involved in.

My research focuses on discovering the genetic background behind human facial shape. I work mainly on developing new methods for image processing that aid in the identification of genes that play a role in how we look. I work in collaboration with research labs all over the world and had the opportunity to travel to Belgium to learn from our partner lab there. When I am not in the lab, I volunteer at the Indianapolis Zoo, was part of the Biology Graduate Organization, and I am currently learning ASL.

  • Graduate Office Events, Programs & Resources
  • Student Successes
    • Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Doctoral Scholars
    • Student Awards
  • Commitment to Diversity
  • Emissaries
  • Measures of Quality
  • Student Demographics
  • Contact Us

Indiana University Graduate School Indianapolis resources and social media channels

  • Contact Us
  • Give Now - support graduate students
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Indiana University

Accessibility | Privacy Notice | Copyright © 2023 The Trustees of Indiana University