McNair Scholar
Turpin High School
Cincinnati, Ohio
Biochemistry
My collegiate experience could not be accurately reflected without expressing my gratitude for the time I have spent learning from the refugee population in Columbia in junction with Dr. Rajeev Bais and his mentorship at the Carolina Survivor Clinic.
Career plans: As I begin my pursuit of a Ph.D. in theoretical chemistry, I hope to become an expert in this new field as it continually intersects with physics and computer science. I aim to expand its research applications to include questions which pertain to medical chemistry and ultimately earn an MD/Ph.D. with the intention of opening the opportunities that exist to further medical research using the growing lens of chemical computation.
Most impactful experience: Though I aim to pursue a career in the sciences, I believe that my collegiate experience could not be accurately reflected without expressing my gratitude for the time I have spent learning from the refugee population in Columbia in junction with Dr. Rajeev Bais and his mentorship at the Carolina Survivor Clinic. I humbly hope that anything I do has positive consequences for those seeking refuge, with or without documentation.
Best part of the Top Scholars program: As a Top Scholar, I believe my time at the University of South Carolina has been most substantially marked by the individuals I have had the privilege of being surrounded by. It has truly been an honor to watch such talented individuals grow and achieve so much within four years and to enjoy the proximity to such substantial success that I have and continually anticipate in the years to come.
UofSC Story: My years as a Gamecock and the identity that emerged from them are the culmination of a number of individuals from whom I have been so lucky to learn. Amongst these are countless peers who have inspired me continuously in their passion and resiliency as well as a number of mentors in leadership and academics. I have been grateful to know Dr. Jan Eberth and Dr. Whitney Zahnd, with the Rural and Minority Health Research Center, as well as Dr. Sonya Garashchuk and Dr. Vitaly Rassolov, with the Chemical Theory Group, whose support has emboldened me to take pride in my ability to create knowledge and who, along with Dr. Donna Chen and Dr. Rajeev Bais, have humbled me in their endless generosity of mentorship.