Why did you choose to study at WPI? 

Growing up in the Worcester area, I had the opportunity to attend several WPI summer activities and educational opportunities that were offered to young students interested in pursuing STEM fields. I attended hands-on engineering activities and robotics competitions that inspired me to go into a STEM field myself. The connection I had to WPI at a fairly young age, along with the positive experiences I had heard from alumni I have spoken with around Worcester, helped solidify my choice to join the WPI community.

How are you involved with the WPI community? 

I engage myself in the community by participating in various clubs that align with my goals and interests. These clubs include the Biology & Biotechnology (BBT) Club, Greenhouse Club, Tea Club, and Art & Design Club. These groups helped me meet new people that share the same interests I do and give me a space outside of my academic work to grow as a person.

What’s your favorite thing about WPI? 

My favorite thing about WPI is the sense of community that supports student growth. WPI’s student project teams and project-based learning allow me to foster friendships in my classes with people that have the same passion as I do. I also feel a strong connection with many of my professors since the BBT department is extremely close knit!

Do you have a faculty or staff mentor? 

Professors Reeta Rao and Jill Rulfs have been extremely inspiring and helpful to me in my classes. These professors have an incredibly intense passion for their work and a willingness to go out of their way to make sure their students learn and grow as much as they can. They have greatly supported my interest in biological fields, like immunology and microbiology, and are a big part of why I know I chose the right field to study.

How has WPI’s project-based learning influenced your education? 

WPI’s project-based learning has changed the way I think academically and approach problems. Rather than simply memorizing material for an exam, completing a project allows me to use the knowledge I have gained from my classes and independent studying and apply it to real-world examples. I am particularly passionate about the projects I work on in the biology laboratories. I have conducted experiments such as purifying antibodies, isolating antibiotic-producing bacteria, and studying behavioral shifts of nematodes. Even in a lecture-based class, I have worked within a student team to practice diagnosing patients based on their symptoms and medical histories. WPI’s projects keep me engaged in what I am learning and build my knowledge through hands-on experience rather than just learning from words on a page.