Carolyn Rentz is this week's WISE spotlight! She is an undergraduate research for the biology department in the Kebler lab.
What interested you to pursue a career in STEM?
Up until about a year ago, I was determined to be a medical doctor. I knew I wanted to serve the community around me, but let's face it, there are many ways to do just that. However, through a summer internship, I discovered other scientific fields that fit my goals and interest better. One of those fields was translational medicine. After many conversations with someone in that position, prayer, and many more questions, I feel confident pursuing this career in science.
How would you describe your work to the public?
Because I am still in undergraduate education, I hesitate to lay claim to any of my own work. However, during my two years at Baylor University, I have been involved with many forms of research. This year, I am a TA for the undergraduate Laparoscopy Lab associated with Hallie Earle Hall. This is my third year in the program, and I have thoroughly enjoyed participating in the research as a freshman and mentoring my own group as a sophomore within two different research projects. I have also been involved in research at a BioTherapeutics company where I helped work on various rare diseases using human-engineered enzymes. Most recently, I have joined a research lab with Dr. Jonathan Kelber starting this fall. This lab studies, "many signaling pathways and molecular/cellular mechanisms to be able to understand factors that regulate metastasis in cancer". Though I am just beginning this lab, I am eager to dive right in to be an asset to this wonderful research team.
Outside of the lab, what do you enjoy doing?
Outside of lab work, I enjoy finding new coffee spots and places to hammock. I am also involved with many organizations at Baylor including Earle Hall's Bible study, Alpha Epsilon Delta, and the Laparoscopy Lab.
Is there something during your research career that you have really enjoyed or want to share?
The best part of being involved with many projects in research is the people I have met. As an intern, I was often intimated by everyone who had PhDs, MDs, and even both. However, when I worked up the nerve to inquire about their career, I was welcomed. The many conversations, both personal and scientific, have made me appreciate the scientific community in all its forms. Without some of those conversations, I wouldn't have discovered what I really wanted to pursue. However, even at the undergraduate level, my peers have taught me so much. I appreciate how the scientific community can't thrive on one's own ambitions, but only through collective team effort.
If you can give a piece of advice to the younger generation, what would it be?
My best piece of advice is to stop looking for shortcuts. Challenges in academia specifically are meant to be overcome with determination and effort. If something is particularly challenging now, it will be even harder down the road if you don't learn to solve the problem in its entirety now.
Is there a female scientist that particularly inspires you?
Mary Courtney was my high school Biotechnology instructor, and Jennifer Giorgio was my chemistry teacher. These women were two of my first scientific mentors before college that directed me toward the many careers that science has to offer. Without them, I wouldn't have discovered my excitement for scientific discovery.
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