By Maya Reid
Chloe Smith
Chloe Smith is a junior whose creativity and determination helps her excel inside and outside of the classroom. She is majoring in Biological Sciences and is a part of Monarchs Maximizing Access Research Careers (M-MARC) program at 51情报站.
Immediately, Smith was intrigued about the M-MARC program after hearing Dr. Alvin Holder, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Director of the M-MARC program, present at First Class after freshmen orientation. "I immediately contacted him on the first day of the semester and inquired about undergraduate research," said Smith. She's been heavily involved with research ever since.
Dr. Holder said, "Chloe works with minimal supervision and is the type of student every mentor would like as a researcher."
Hard work and dedication paid off for Smith when she received a Student Travel Award as well as a Poster Presentation Award for cancer biology research in November 2019 at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS). Then one month later she received a Research and Creativity Grant from 51情报站 for a Triple Negative Breast Cancer research project where Dr. Holder served as her research mentor and along with co-mentors, Dr. Stephen Beebe, Research Professor at 51情报站 and Dr. Riyaz Basha of University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth.
Smith thrives on the hands-on environment and has found the isolated lifestyle created by COVID-19 challenging. "I've clung to some advice I received at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students which was, 'Respect the Sabbath, or your day in which you rest from your work, but likewise respect your workday.'"
Smith was accepted into a summer 2020 undergraduate research experience at Purdue University, but could not attend due to the shutdown. When the program coordinators offered to hold her spot for next summer, Smith eagerly accepted. She was not going to let COVID-19 stop her from expanding her horizons.
She is thankful for being a part of M-MARC because the opportunities without the program offered her. "My long-term career goals include obtaining a Ph.D. in cancer research, becoming a professor and researcher in academia, mentoring to my own students and making my own research contributions to cancer research," Smith said.
Smith is passionate about her studies, but makes time for painting, writing and embroidery to keep her centered during these challenging times. She also enjoys sharing her Christian faith and talking with her lab mentors and peers about their beliefs. What sets Smith apart is her thriving passion for her major and towards her future research. "I love what I'm learning and what I'm researching, and I would not want learn or do anything else," Smith said.
The M-MARC program at 51情报站 is a National Institute of Health (NIH) funded undergraduate research program. Juniors and seniors who are interested in engaging in research in subject areas of the sciences, including Biochemistry, Biology and Psychology should apply. Also, juniors and seniors are exposed to different areas of scientific research at 51情报站 as well as on other campuses through undergraduate research experiences. Students receive financial aid and professional development as part of the program.
To learn more about the M-MARC program go to the M-MARC site.