Graduate Student Highlights

A Structural Biologist Investigating Cellular Processes in their Native State: Sashi Weerawarana

Jessica Helzer — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:48:40 +0000

A Structural Biologist Investigating Cellular Processes in their Native State: Sashi Weerawarana Jessica Helzer Fri, 06/05/2026 - 07:48

MY DISSERTATION & THE POTENTIAL OUTCOMES

My primary research focus was genome organization in mitochondria. I became interested in this topic because there were many unanswered questions about mitochondrial DNA organization, despite this process being extremely important for overall cell health. I was especially interested in this system because many unknowns could be answered using simple biochemical methods. I showed that TFAM, the protein responsible for packaging mitochondrial DNA, forms homogenous higher order complexes on DNA that exhibit microscale conformational dynamics. These dynamics may be a method of regulating access to the mitochondrial genome which is essential for cellular energy production.

I also worked on two other projects investigating histone-mediated genome organization in bacteria and giant viruses. In this work, I characterized three different mechanisms of DNA packaging, highlighting the diverse strategies adopted by these small but versatile proteins. Together, my work in graduate school characterized the fundamental process of genome organization across the domains of life, contributing to the quest to understand the origins of the eukaryotic nucleus. I hope that I leave this experience as a highly skilling, rigorous scientist that is an expert in my field.

WHERE I’M HEADED POST DOCTORAL STUDIES

I anticipate changes to my research focus as I move forward. I would like to learn cryogenic electron tomography to expand my skillset as a structural biologist and to study cellular processes in their native state. I’m excited to explore new organisms and mechanisms that I’m yet to come across; there are so many interesting questions out there.

WHY I SELECTED �鶹��Ѱ��BOULDER

I chose the �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Department of Biochemistry for graduate school because of its collaborative culture, the well-equipped facilities available to students and the many highly active research labs. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking, skiing, swimming and playing water polo.

Sashi's Feature Profile

Luger Lab

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Quiescent or Senescent? Cancer Center Research Helps Identify Cancer That is More Likely to Recur

Jessica Helzer — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 13:27:53 +0000

Quiescent or Senescent? Cancer Center Research Helps Identify Cancer That is More Likely to Recur Jessica Helzer Mon, 02/16/2026 - 06:27

Associate professor Sabrina Spencer, PhD, and PhD candidate Brianna Fernandez led the study published in Nature Communications.

In a study that could have implications for more effective cancer therapies and preventing cancer recurrence, University of Colorado Anschutz Cancer Center member Sabrina Spencer, PhD, working with graduate student Brianna Fernandez, used single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate the cell-cycle state of cells following chemotherapy.

Specifically, the researchers were looking to characterize cells in one of two arrested states: quiescence, a reversible state of cell-cycle arrest, and senescence, an irreversible state of cell-cycle arrest. Their research was published in January 2026 in the journal Nature Communications.

The Department of Biochemistry at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder looks forward to the ongoing Spencer/Fernandez research and what the duo will continue to discover.

Read Full Article Here

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An Industry Experience Shaped an Interest in Cancer Research: Kristyn Hayashi

Jessica Helzer — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 13:12:03 +0000

An Industry Experience Shaped an Interest in Cancer Research: Kristyn Hayashi Jessica Helzer Fri, 10/10/2025 - 07:12

MY DISSERTATION & THE POTENTIAL OUTCOMES

I’m currently studying MAPK signaling thresholds using mass spectrometry proteomic and phosphoproteomic approaches in Dr. Natalie Ahn’s lab. I developed my interest in cancer research, cell signaling and systems biology before coming to grad school. My time working in industry research (AbbVie - formerly Stemcentrx) really solidified my love of science, helped focus my research interests, and better prepared me for grad school.

Being selected in 2021-2023 (renewed in 2025) to participate as a trainee on the NIH sponsored T32 Graduate Training Program in Signaling and Cellular Regulation has been a great experience. I really appreciated the cross-disciplinary approach and feel it fosters an interdepartmental sense of community, building connections between the Biochemistry and the Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology departments at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder.

WHERE I’M HEADED NOW

I hope my grad school training will broaden my scientific understanding to better develop a scientific question and think critically. I love the problem-solving aspect of research, being able to troubleshoot and design my own experiments. I’ve gained more computational skills during my graduate training that I hope to continue using and expand on in my future career.

After graduating, I hope to continue studying cancer research and help develop therapeutics in an industry setting. I hope my science eventually helps patients.

“A highlight of my �鶹��Ѱ��Biochemistry graduate school experience, in addition to my research program, was supporting the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Mentoring program as a committee leader and helping new and ongoing graduate students navigate their �鶹��Ѱ��Biochemistry path.”

WHY I SELECTED �鶹��Ѱ��BOULDER

My career hasn’t always been a straight path in academia. After getting my undergraduate degree, I lived in South Korea for a year teaching English. During this time, I experienced a lot of personal growth but ultimately realized I missed science. Afterwards, I worked in several different biotech companies in the SF Bay Area. While I gained a lot of important skills, I realized I wanted to better contribute and guide our research goals. I felt the training from a PhD program would better prepare me for a career in scientific research.

I was excited about the research at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, but what really sold me were the mountains and outdoor activities, particularly snowboarding and hiking. Boulder’s a great place to live and I felt the grad students I met during recruitment had a good work life balance.

Ahn Lab
PhD Candidate 2025: Biochemistry

AY24-25: P2P Mentoring Program, Committee Chair
2021-2023 + 2025: NIH Graduate Training Program in Signaling and Cellular Regulation
B.S. Molecular & Cellular Biology, Johns Hopkins University

Download Kristyn's �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Biochemistry Journey

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�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder PhD student Emily Kibby has won the prestigious Harold M. Weintraub Graduate Student Award

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Mar 2024 20:53:13 +0000

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder PhD student Emily Kibby has won the prestigious Harold M. Weintraub Graduate Student Award Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 03/02/2024 - 13:53

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder PhD student Emily Kibby has won the prestigious Harold M. Weintraub Graduate Student Award in recognition of her work researching bacterial immune responses.

Her work recently was recognized with the Harold M. Weintraub Graduate Student Award, given by the Fred Hutch Cancer Center to honor outstanding achievement during graduate studies in the biological sciences. Kibby and her fellow winners were chosen for the quality, originality and scientific significance of their research and will be honored at a symposium May 3 in Seattle.

“Emily is highly deserving of the Weintraub award because she is a dedicated scientist whose fearlessness and innovative thinking have allowed her to open new research areas in my lab,” says Aaron Whiteley, a �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder assistant professor of biochemistry.

Click here for more details about this award and Emily's exciting work!

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Paving the Way in Research for Diverse Perspectives: Meg Palacio

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 22:20:43 +0000

Paving the Way in Research for Diverse Perspectives: Meg Palacio Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 11/15/2023 - 15:20

Leading as an Inclusive Researcher

Advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion of historically excluded students in STEM has been a large part of my identity and effort throughout my graduate school journey. As a Chicana, I recognize the barriers imposed upon disadvantaged groups and know that I would not be where I am today without the aid of programs that increase support for diverse students in science. I felt a responsibility to give back to the same community that helped me to succeed as a young researcher. So, I have been involved in various outreach and mentoring programs such as the Society for the Advancement of Chicano and Native Americans in STEM (SACNAS), Peer-2-Peer mentoring, Summer Multicultural Access to Research Training Program (SMART), Longmont High School SMART Program, STEM Routes, and the Uplift Program. I also co-founded and was the former chair of the Biochemistry Department’s DEI committee. Outreach work is what can inspire the next generation of scientists and it is critical that we create an inclusive environment for all identities to be able to thrive.

My Research: Biochemistry for Creating New Tools for Human Health

My research focuses on elucidating the role of biomolecular condensates in transcription regulation. Biomolecular condensates are membraneless liquid droplets that possess a high concentration of local proteins and/or nucleic acids. These condensates offer spatiotemporal control of protein function and could be utilized by the cell to regulate processes such as transcription. Specifically, most of my efforts have focused on developing a fluorescent assay to simultaneously visualize in real-time condensate formation and human RNA polymerase II transcription using a defined reconstituted in vitro system. I knew this project was a great fit for my thesis research because it combined researching the regulation of a fundamental process with the development of a new method or tool. Additionally, the implication of biomolecular condensates in coordinating transcription is a relatively new idea and subsequently, there are a lot of available questions that need to be addressed so we can better understand the underlying mechanism. Finally, I also find studying human transcription intriguing. It a complex orchestration of a multitude of proteins and nucleic acids where the precise timing is critical for proper gene expression.

My Life's Journey

Biochemistry truly fascinates me, every organism surrounding us survives because of all these thousands of intricate biochemical interactions. I am inspired by the idea that I could be someone who contributes to understanding how these interactions regulate processes that give rise to life. I chose �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder because it felt like an environment where I could succeed. Graduate students here appeared to be genuinely happy. They were working hard in lab and simultaneously enjoying their weekends hiking or spending time with friends. These students were publishing in top journals and still finding time to enjoy life. That dynamic is exactly what I wanted in a program. Additionally, the research in the biochemistry department and the �鶹��Ѱ��community is astounding and the faculty are easy to talk to despite their impressive backgrounds. Plus, who wouldn’t love the Rockies in their backyard?

Meg looks to go above and beyond to provide resources for causes where she's directly plugged in, “I hope to secure additional funding for causes important to me and one of those programs is the Longmont High School SMART Program, an afterschool program in a largely Hispanic community that exposes students to protein structure, function, and modeling.” Download Meg's �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Biochemistry journey.

The Taatjes Lab - BCHM

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A Creative and Community Minded Researcher - Clair Huffine

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 20:57:20 +0000

A Creative and Community Minded Researcher - Clair Huffine Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 09/26/2023 - 14:57

Clair Huffine is a 2025 PhD candidate in the Cameron Laboratory. She recently won the 2023 Biophysics Supergroup Outstanding Research Presentation Award; is a 2023 P.E.O. SCHOLARS Award applicant; and in 2022 was an NIH/�鶹��Ѱ��Molecular Biophysics trainee and received Honorable Mention for GRFP - the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

A Creative and Community-minded Researcher

Giving back gives me energy. In addition to board service with S.C.O.P.E (Science Community Outreach Program and Education), I co-founded QSci: Queers in STEM in order to build a thriving community for LGBTQ+ students, staff, and faculty. Additionally, I am a member of P.E.O., a women’s philanthropic organization whose mission is to fund women’s education at all levels, high school to graduate school. With a love for all things green, I spend my weekends backpacking, tending my jungle of houseplants (complete with my “jungle-cat” Kiki), or fly fishing. I also work as a freelance artist, primarily creating digitally painted landscapes or graphic design work for board games. These skills have been transferable to my scientific career with creating compelling scientific figures for my papers and presentations, increasing community engagement with monthly QSci Posters, and crafting memorable and attractive logos for S.C.O.P.E. My portfolio can be found at clairhuffine.com.

Research: Biochemistry for Climate Change

Bacterial cells are often thought of as lacking subcellular organization. However, bacteria do in fact possess both membrane-bound regions as well as, unique from eukaryotes, protein encapsulated regions in order to accomplish incredible biochemical feats. In Dr. Jeffrey Cameron’s lab, I use time lapse fluorescence microscopy to track the redox state inside the carboxysome, which are protein-encapsulated bacterial microcompartments that house the CO2-fixing machinery for cyanobacteria (commonly known as blue-green algae) and allow them to efficiently remove CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into sugars and biomass. Having always been driven by the plight of climate change, I hope to provide insight into this CO2-capturing mechanism to ultimately offset increasing atmospheric CO2-levels and slow climate change. I plan to pursue a career focused on addressing climate change through applied research and scientific outreach.

My Life's Journey

I grew up in northern Virginia and with a biology and chemistry degree in hand and moving from one mountain range to the next, I began my graduate degree at the �鶹��Ѱ�� the Fall of 2020. I wanted to pursue my graduate degree that held inter- and intra-lab teamwork in science as an ideal. I couldn’t help but notice how collaborative and welcoming the scientific environment at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder was. Students and faculty alike were enthusiastic to share their work, make new interdisciplinary connections, and support their peers in any way possible. I joined through the Interdisciplinary Quantitative (IQ) Biology program, which focuses on crossing disciplinary boundaries, encouraging collaboration, and developing computational skill sets.

Clair has a volunteer mindset about life, “Science does not occur in a vacuum; dissemination of research and engagement of the wider community is essential for scientific progress. As such, I have volunteered time across several organizations to foster connections, act as a scientific liaison, and spark excitement about cutting edge research driving science forward..” Not to mention, when she's not in the lab, Clair is using her creative talents to support interesting graphics for student-led groups she is involved in, as well as creative illustrations for scientific papers. Download Clair's �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Biochemistry journey.

The Cameron Lab - BCHM

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A Blooming Scientist: Emily Kibby

Anonymous — Wed, 31 May 2023 14:51:49 +0000

A Blooming Scientist: Emily Kibby Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/31/2023 - 08:51

Emily Kibby is a 2025 PhD candidate in Biochemistry in the Aaron Whiteley Research Group. She became an NIH Signaling and Cellular Regulation Trainee in 2020 and in 2021 received a Graduate Teaching Award.

A BLOOMING SCIENTIST

It was only in high school that I started to appreciate chemistry and developed an interest in biology. Up until then I thought I might be a writer and most likely an educator - following in the footsteps of my parents. I became fascinated with understanding the molecular mechanisms that serve as the foundation for life. As is true for many people, I would say the mentorship I’ve received (and given) and the people that I have worked with have been really important parts of my development as a scientist.

RESEARCH: WHERE MICROBIOLOGY MEETS BIOCHEMISTRY

I focus on understanding bacterial immune systems, and investigating the many ways that bacteria have to protect themselves from viruses and other threats. I’ve always been fascinated by the diversity of microbes and the interactions in host-pathogen conflicts, so I love working on a system where both the host and the pathogen are microbes! I think I’m always going to be fascinated by the same things that I love now, but that might expand to looking at the immune systems of other organisms like fungi or archaea, and I anticipate that I will also broaden the strategies I use to answer scientific questions. Genetics are and will always be an incredibly powerful tool to answer the types of question I am excited about, but I’m hoping to learn and use other strategies to investigate microbial conflict systems. Emily’s first first-author paper was just published in Cell (Volume 186, Issue 11, P2410-2424.E18, May 25, 2023)!

MY LIFE’S JOURNEY

I chose the �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Department of Biochemistry because I really loved the collaborative and supportive community found in this department - not to mention the excellent shared facilities and science. I arrived at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder as a first-year grad student Fall of 2019 and managed to experience most of the first year in person before we were shut down due to COVID. Professor Aaron Whiteley started his lab in January of 2020 and after initial rotations, I found the Aaron Whiteley Lab was a great fit with my research interests! Mentoring and teaching are in my DNA and early-on I became involved in undergraduate mentoring, tutoring students through the Student Academic Success Center, and volunteering with Partnerships for Informal Science Education in the Community (PISEC) and the Science Community Outreach Program and Education (SCOPE). Along my journey toward a PhD I’m hoping to learn new skills and strategies for framing, communicating, and investigating exciting scientific questions, and then putting those strategies into practice to do some cool science! Because I have received really helpful mentorship, I wish to continue mentoring others and get other young scientists excited along the way. When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy the many outdoor activities accessible in Boulder, playing volleyball, and other group activities that our community is known for! I hope that my career will lead me to an academic environment where teaching is paramount - but never removed from the joy and application of the research.

Emily has an inquisitive mindset about life, “I just love that biochemistry gives a window to better understand the molecular strategies used by us and other organisms to live. “Life” as we think about it is already so incredible, the fact that we can understand it on a molecular level and that we still have so much to learn has always been really exciting to me. I also love that biochemistry has so many applications for making life on this shared planet better for everyone.” Not to mention, when she's not in the lab, Emily is using her teaching mindset to tutor and mentor undergraduate students and provide support to her fellow graduate students. Download Emily's �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Biochemistry journey.

Aaron Whiteley Research Group - BCHM

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A Dedicated Science Champion: Calvin Voong

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 20:47:11 +0000

A Dedicated Science Champion: Calvin Voong Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 04/17/2023 - 14:47

Calvin Voong is a 2024 PhD Candidate in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology in the Goodrich-Kugel Research Group. In 2019 he received a Graduate Teaching Award; in 2021 he received a Department Service Award; and in 2023 was a member of the Graduate Recruiting Team.

LOS ANGELES LEADS TO BOULDER

I grew up in the greater Los Angeles area in a historically underrepresented community, where the expectations were centered on being diligent and working hard – a necessity to make ends meet. During my undergraduate studies, I commuted to Long Beach State University from my family home, which often led me to being on the road around 6am and leaving for home later into the evenings. The combination of long days and familial expectations were mentally and physically challenging for my studies, but I made it! However, when I went to graduate school, I wanted to do things differently; I wanted to focus on creating a healthy lifestyle while being diligent in my studies and scientific endeavors. �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Biochemistry gave me that opportunity and access to world-class facilities, to people who are curious - collaborative – supportive, to advisors who made time for their students, to a great community, and to a healthy outdoor environment.

MOLECULAR CURIOSITY TO SYSTEMS RESEARCH

I have always had an interest in understanding the molecular details and I am excited about drug design and biomolecular tool development. Through my research journey, I have developed an appreciation for the basic sciences – wanting to better understand the molecular details of how a system works - where I can modulate different properties of a particular biomolecular system to learn and explore. My current research path focuses on investigating how a DNA binding protein, HMGB1, navigates the structure of a nucleosome. As an architectural DNA binding protein, HMGB1 can modulate the local chromatin environment to help facilitate the binding of other transcription factors to their cognate DNA binding sites. Previous biochemical assays have shown that HMGB1 interacts with DNA and parts of the nucleosome; however, it is unclear from this set of literature how HMGB1 utilizes these different modes of interactions to help it search for DNA binding sites in the context of chromatin. Hence, to investigate this phenomenon, my research uses single-molecule microscopy to study the binding kinetics of HMGB1 on nucleosomes. Having a better understanding of how HMGB1 navigates the architecture of a nucleosome will allow us to better understand the mechanisms by which HMGB1 helps transcription factors bind to their cognate DNA sequences.

MY JOURNEY

Boulder has become my home. I am grateful for the opportunities that have allowed me to put all my energy into my academics and research pursuits, I am grateful for the complete support of my advisors and fellow lab members, and I am incredibly grateful that I have been given opportunities to explore my scientific endeavors by allowing my curiosity to lead the way. Being a full-time graduate student without needing to work multiple jobs to get me through my degree has been vital to my growth and success. Additionally, giving back to the community has been important to me, as I have co-created the �鶹��Ѱ��Biochemistry Peer-to-Peer mentoring program to support the first-year graduate students, spearheaded the in-person recruitment process to support our administration, and trained a myriad of up-and-coming scientists to be confident and efficient in what they do. My experience giving back to the �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Biochemistry community has been incredibly fulfilling. Coming from a low socioeconomic background, where many of my peers did not have the opportunities to pursue their academic goals and aspirations due to financial and cultural constraints, I am motivated to give back and support those like me. I am bringing forward ideas, creating opportunities in education for those around me, and encouraging the growth and development of those I work with. The �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Biochemistry program has allowed me to grow, and in turn, allowed me to give back to the very community that fostered my success.

Calvin has a pay-it-forward mindset, “Success, and joy, is fostering education and opportunity for the underserved in scientific fields by building programs that offer paths into biotech or pharmaceutical development careers. I want this to be part of my life’s journey througout my career." Not to mention, when he's not in the lab, Calvin is using his photographic skills in documenting the excitement of science and his fellow graduate students. Follow Calvin's updates at decalvino.com or download Calvin's �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Biochemistry journey.

Goodrich-Kugel Research Group - BCHM decalvino.com

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PhD student, professor win major inclusivity fellowship

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 16:01:32 +0000

PhD student, professor win major inclusivity fellowship Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 08/02/2021 - 10:01

Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine

Briana Aboulache and Karolin Luger win Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam fellowship, which looks to build a more inclusive scientific environment

Briana Aboulache, a graduate student at the �鶹��Ѱ��, and her advisor, Biochemistry Professor Karolin Luger, have won a significant fellowship that aims to advance diversity and inclusion in science.

Aboulache and Luger are among 50 student-advisor duos to win a 2021 Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Gilliam fellowships, the institute recently announced. The awards are bestowed to graduate students conducting outstanding research and their advisers, and are targeted toward those who are committed to building a more inclusive scientific ecosystem.

Briana Aboulache

For up to three years, each adviser-student pair will receive an annual award totaling $50,000. This year’s fellows’ research includes studying how malaria parasite broods destroy red blood cells and trying to identify the source of pollution behind harmful algal blooms in a river used by the Seneca Nation and other communities.

“I was struck by the scientific maturity of these students,” says David Asai, HHMI’s senior director for science education.

“They’re all doing great science, and they can talk about it in a way that people understand.” What’s more, he adds, their advisers are serious and thoughtful about their role as mentors and their plans to create healthy academic cultures at their universities.

Aboulache is pursuing a PhD in biochemistry and is in her third year in Luger’s lab. She studies how the chromatin remodeling protein SMARCAD1 interacts with nucleosomes during DNA repair, transcription and replication.

Luger said she has always believed that training the next generation of scientists is her most important and primary task.

We should expect to see talented students and scientists from underrepresented groups on college campuses and across all of science."

“One really good way to increase the diversity of scientists at all levels, be that academia, industry or outreach, is a tailored mentoring approach,” she said, adding: “I am so grateful to HHMI for recognizing this need and for providing me with the tools to become a better and more inclusive mentor.”

She said she looks forward to meeting other colleagues and their students to make the scientific endeavor better reflect the general population.

Aboulache said she was “extremely honored” to receive the Gilliam Award. “I am excited to be surrounded by great scientists, leaders and activists aimed at producing cutting-edge research while also increasing diversity in the sciences.”

Aboulache praised Luger as an exemplary role model. “She is an excellent, highly motivated leader who produces remarkable science and also cares deeply about her students and lab members.”

“As I continue to develop and mature as a scientist, I look forward to mentoring students in the lab and the classroom, and hope to one day go into teaching. I plan on instilling the valuable and effective leadership strategies that have helped me develop as a scientist to empower others to succeed,” Aboulache said.

Noting her own work to foster an inclusive environment in science, Aboulache said she hopes to continue creating a work environment “where people take the time to understand each other’s point of view, build trust, and align in a shared mission to perform revolutionary science that is accessible to everyone.”

Karolin Luger

She added: “My goal is to excite future generations about science and empower diverse groups to make meaningful impacts on the world.”

Mentorship is a Gilliam hallmark, says the HHMI, that’s sparking a “cultural shift” on campuses. Since its inception in 2004, HHMI’s Gilliam Program has worked to ensure that students from populations historically excluded and underrepresented in science are prepared to become scientific leaders.

To retain as many of these students as possible in PhD programs, it’s crucial to provide high-quality mentoring, as well as financial support, an inclusive lab environment and a supportive community, Asai says.

In total, the Gilliam Program has now selected 351 fellows, and, from 2015 to 2021, the program has focused heavily on developing academic mentors. To date, the program, in collaboration with the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER), has trained 199 mentors on how to create an environment that helps students of all backgrounds feel like they belong—in the lab and in science.

Gilliam advisers participate in a year of mentor development activities that emphasize cultural awareness, including monthly online training and two in-person workshops at HHMI headquarters in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Together, the activities teach advisers how to listen and engage across cultures.

By training mentors and supporting the growing Gilliam community, the program aims to make the academic environment inclusive so that students see themselves in science. Eventually, Asai hopes, this will increase the diversity of scientists at the faculty level.

“Diversity in science should be the norm,” he says. “We should expect to see talented students and scientists from underrepresented groups on college campuses and across all of science.”

Members of the Gilliam community also support each other outside of the annual meeting. Fellows regularly celebrate one another’s successes and provide updates on their career journeys on social media.

And since 2017, the program has maintained a listserv where alumni and fellows can ask for career advice and post job opportunities. Even though some have never met in person, members of the community often answer questions and share their experiences.

HHMI created the Gilliam Fellowships for Advanced Study in honor of the late James H. Gilliam, Jr. A charter trustee of HHMI, Gilliam was a respected business and civic leader who spent his life nurturing excellence and diversity in science and education.

Briana Aboulache and Karolin Luger win Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam fellowship, which looks to build a more inclusive scientific environment

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Dealing with Adversity: Graycen Wheeler

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 19:37:06 +0000

Dealing with Adversity: Graycen Wheeler Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 06/05/2020 - 13:37

Graycen Wheeler is a 6^th year graduate student in BCHM's Liu Lab. She was initially attracted to �鶹��Ѱ��Biochem by the strong web presence and diversity of research in the department’s labs. During graduate recruitment, “the interview process wasn’t nearly as anxiety-inducing and I felt natural interacting with grad students and prospective advisors.” Graycen joined the department with good grades and plenty of undergraduate research experience, but a couple of challenges along the way quickly taught her that success would require new skills, a little luck, and a lot of persistence.

Finding a Home

For many grad students, the first year of grad school induced a crisis of identity; Graycen and her classmates rotated between labs while establishing professional relationships, brushing up on research skills, and preparing for her written exams, all while taking a rigorous course-load. “A lot of people say being in graduate school is a break from your real life—and it’s not. You have to constantly assess what you’re giving up to stay in school.” Compounding these stressors, at the end of her first year, Graycen received the disappointing news that her first choice for a permanent lab was no longer accepting graduate students. Furthermore, her written exams were scheduled a few short weeks after first-year students join their labs.

Graycen stuck with it, and after “wandering into a microscopy lab,” fell in love with systems biology: “I loved the huge tangled mess of cell-signaling. With microscopy, there’s also lots of programming and image analysis which is always a delight.” Graycen had completed her first two rotations based on her undergraduate experience with structural biology. The opportunity to moonlight in multiple labs with varying research focuses before making a choice was a major draw, even amongst related programs at CU, for Graycen, it paid off. In her new lab, Graycen felt “like a mad scientist from a cartoon looking over my microscope.” She also made new friends, including a lab mate that she now plays tabletop games with: “I found my roommate and some great friends through that game. That’s a great benefit of this program—close ties to other departments.”

Beyond the Bench

It was these friends that Graycen turned to for support when she learned that she had failed her written comp test: “I was playing in a departmental softball league, and we had a game the day I found out that I had failed.” Some of the faculty that had administered her exam were playing, and needless to say, it was the last place she wanted to be. After the game, Graycen decided to hang out with some teammates where she received kind and encouraging words from her peers. “Grad school is hard, no matter what program you choose. There will always be times that it sucks; it felt great to be surrounded by people who reminded me of that.”

Over the intervening years, Graycen has added writer, producer, and podcast host to her CV thanks to her work with CU’s blog Science Buffs. Graycen writes for Science Buffs and is a co-host and co-producer for the Buffs Talk Science podcast: “Science Buffs wanted to start a highly produced podcast a la Radio Lab on NPR, but these would take 6+ months to produce without a big staff. We were working on an idea for a podcast that we could get out in a reasonable time frame.” Graycen takes full advantage of the format: “I get to say, ‘asking on behalf of the non-scientist’ and pretend you’re asking for the regular listeners out there. The podcast is a great chance to talk to people I’d normally be intimidated by in a more informal setting.”

Sharing Science

Graycen has also found that the format has a disarming effect on expert guests: “Everybody is pretty nervous to go on a podcast, so they end up a lot less intimidating; we have professors and other experts over for dinner and discuss their research in a more informal setting. The interviews themselves are also a blast.” Graycen and her co-host have managed to parlay several of their interviews into game nights. Graycen’s favorite stories to tell are about bad scientists: “Our first episode on Buffs Talk Science was on Ryan Zinke, who was a scientist for the Trump administration. He was constantly offering his professional opinion ‘as a geologist’ when he had never worked as a geologist and had only studied geology briefly in college. I like stories with a little bit of controversy, which leaves listeners to formulate their own opinion.”

When she’s not in the lab, working on a new story, or dominating faculty in softball, you might find Graycen mountain biking: “The single tracks in Eerie are great. The prettiest trail I’ve been on was in Bailey, which also happens to be the Bigfoot sighting capital of Colorado.” She also keeps bees, which she inherited from a former classmate who’s now doing patent law in New York. Follow Graycen’s work on Science Buffs and on Twitter @grrriosa.

Liu Lab - BCHM Science Buffs Blog Buffs Talk Science Podcast @grrriosa - Twitter

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Graduate Student Highlights

A Structural Biologist Investigating Cellular Processes in their Native State: Sashi Weerawarana

MY DISSERTATION & THE POTENTIAL OUTCOMES

WHERE I’M HEADED POST DOCTORAL STUDIES

WHY I SELECTED �鶹��Ѱ�����BOULDER

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Quiescent or Senescent? Cancer Center Research Helps Identify Cancer That is More Likely to Recur

Associate professor Sabrina Spencer, PhD, and PhD candidate Brianna Fernandez led the study published in Nature Communications.

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An Industry Experience Shaped an Interest in Cancer Research: Kristyn Hayashi

MY DISSERTATION & THE POTENTIAL OUTCOMES

WHERE I’M HEADED NOW

WHY I SELECTED �鶹��Ѱ�����BOULDER

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�鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder PhD student Emily Kibby has won the prestigious Harold M. Weintraub Graduate Student Award

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Paving the Way in Research for Diverse Perspectives: Meg Palacio

Leading as an Inclusive Researcher

My Research: Biochemistry for Creating New Tools for Human Health

My Life's Journey

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A Creative and Community Minded Researcher - Clair Huffine

A Creative and Community-minded Researcher

Research: Biochemistry for Climate Change

My Life's Journey

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A Blooming Scientist: Emily Kibby

A BLOOMING SCIENTIST

RESEARCH: WHERE MICROBIOLOGY MEETS BIOCHEMISTRY

MY LIFE’S JOURNEY

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A Dedicated Science Champion: Calvin Voong

LOS ANGELES LEADS TO BOULDER

MOLECULAR CURIOSITY TO SYSTEMS RESEARCH

MY JOURNEY

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PhD student, professor win major inclusivity fellowship

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Dealing with Adversity: Graycen Wheeler

Finding a Home

Beyond the Bench

Sharing Science

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WHY I SELECTED �鶹��Ѱ��BOULDER

WHY I SELECTED �鶹��Ѱ��BOULDER

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder PhD student Emily Kibby has won the prestigious Harold M. Weintraub Graduate Student Award