My interest in science began in high school when I participated in the Science Research Mentoring Program at the American Museum of Natural History (a close cousin of DNALC’s Urban Barcode Research Program!). Getting to work with a scientist in a lab empowered me to pursue research in college and beyond. It also inspired me to seek out ways to give others the same kinds of hands-on learning experiences that had such a big impact on me.

I joined a lab my first year at Wesleyan University and graduated with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Biology. My research focused on how chromosomes interact and exchange genetic information during meiotic cell division. I also majored in Science in Society, which taught me to consider the cultural, social, and political significance of my science training. This combination of programs cemented my interest in making science accessible and relatable to everyone. Outside of the classroom, I got involved in a number of science outreach efforts, from mentoring students to teaching afterschool programs and summer camps back home in New York City.

After graduating, I continued to expand my research skills as a Research Specialist at the University of Chicago in a lab that studied a cell signaling pathway that controls tissue development. I realized that, while I love the inquiry-driven, dynamic nature of lab work, I missed my favorite part of science—getting to share it with other people! Now, as an educator at DNALC NYC, I am excited that I can combine my research and teaching backgrounds to facilitate engaging learning experiences for students from across the city. I hope that my work here will inspire students like my younger self to pursue their own science careers.

我对科学的兴趣始于高中，当时我参加了美国自然历史博物馆的科学研究指导计划（DNALC城市条码研究计划的近亲！）。在实验室里与科学家一起工作使我能够在大学和以后从事研究。这也激励了我去寻找各种方法，让其他人也能体验到同样的动手学习经历，这对我产生了巨大的影响。

我在卫斯理大学的第一年加入了一个实验室，并获得了生物学学士和硕士学位。我的研究重点是染色体在减数分裂过程中如何相互作用和交换遗传信息。我还主修社会科学，它教会我考虑我的科学训练的文化、社会和政治意义。这些项目的组合巩固了我的兴趣，让每个人都能接触和理解科学。在课堂之外，我参与了许多科学推广活动，从指导学生到在纽约市的课后项目和夏令营。

毕业后，作为在芝加哥大学实验室一个研究专员，我继续扩大我的研究能力，研究细胞信号通路，控制组织发育。我意识到，虽然我喜欢探究驱动、动态的实验室工作，但我错过了科学中我最喜欢的部分——与其他人分享它！现在，作为纽约DNALC的一名教育工作者，我很高兴能够将我的研究和教学背景结合起来，为来自全市各地的学生提供引人入胜的学习体验。我希望我在这里的工作能激励像我年轻时一样的学生，去追求他们自己的科学事业。