I'm currently enrolled with the IBS graduate program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

This program encourages an exchange of ideas across scientific disciplines and university departments, which invigorates my collaborative spirit! As I advance in my scientific training, I'm starting to think more about what collaboration might mean in my own pursuits and how it's being worked out around me by the professors I work with. This program and the idea of collaboration backs the scientific trends I believe we're moving toward and the scientific philosophy I've become so endeared to. Collaboration, in my view, is a mine of innovation, and it's incredible to think that some of my ideas could contribute to humanity's scientific knowledge.

UAB is the largest employer of Birmingham, Alabama, where I live now, and actually employs over half the city's workforce. It's the largest city I've ever been a part of! I moved here partly because that's exactly what I wanted to experience, as well as the chance to live in a different state than where I've always lived. North Carolina is beautiful and a gracious state to live in, but I didn't want to apply to any schools in that state because I thought it was time for me to branch out. In fact, I hope to travel a lot during my graduate career, giving presentations and lectures at every opportunity. I think it's necessary for me as a scientist and as world citizen to look for opportunities to travel and work abroad. I'll keep you posted on that front.

UAB has also been very, very generous! I recieve a $25,000 stipend and free tuition for all the years I study here. It would be more impressive if I could say I won this as a prize, but every one who is accepted in this program reicieves this support. How awesome is that? Never pay to go to graduate school!

 I look forward to contributing all I can to the work at UAB, and I'm grateful for the chance to be trained as world-class scientist. Thanks, UAB!

Thinking about graduate school yourself? I have plenty to say on the subject!