Formulating a Future: Finding a Calling in Pharmaceutical Science</h1> <article> <h1>Formulating a Future: Finding a Calling in Pharmaceutical Science</h1> <p>kviancou — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:19:00 +0000</p> <span>Formulating a Future: Finding a Calling in Pharmaceutical Science</span> <span><span>kviancou</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-23T13:19:00-04:00" title="Monday, March 23, 2026 - 13:19">Mon, 03/23/2026 - 13:19</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The <a href="/center-engaged-liberal-arts">Center for Engaged Liberal Arts (CELA)</a> helped Alex Xie ’26 build a strong background in undergraduate chemistry research and clarify her post-graduate plans.</p><p>As a second-year student, Xie secured her first research experience at �鶹��Ƶ working with Professor Anthony Allen in his chemistry lab during winter term. “That experience gave me a good sense of what it was like to work in a lab, and I enjoyed building off of the organic chemistry I had learned in class,” she says.</p><p>After gaining initial research experience, Xie applied to the �鶹��Ƶ Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (OSURF) program, which provides stipends for students conducting summer research on campus. The OSURF program is now known as the <a href="/oberlin-summer-research-institute-fellowship">�鶹��Ƶ Summer Research Institute Fellowship</a>. As an OSURF fellow, Xie dedicated additional time to research in a lab mentored by Professor Will Parsons. That summer, she honed and diversified her skills in the laboratory and beyond. “I learned many new research techniques through this project, but I also improved my skills in other areas such as reading scientific literature and preparing presentations.”</p><p>Xie’s success in the OSURF program motivated her to apply for the Goldwater Scholarship after receiving a nomination from �鶹��Ƶ. In applying, she reflected more deeply on her goals and found that guidance from the <a href="/fellowships">Fellowships Office</a> strengthened her materials. ”I had come into �鶹��Ƶ wanting to pursue a PhD, but it had been more of a distant goal,” she says. ”�鶹��Ƶing for the Goldwater Scholarship helped cement that goal into something more definitive and made me think about my future career plans after graduate school.”</p><p>Xie later applied to and was accepted into the Research Experience for Undergraduates program at Emory University. “At Emory, I was mentored by a graduate student and conducted chemical biology research,” she says. “Experiencing research at an R1 institution and seeing what a graduate student’s life is like further solidified my desire to go to graduate school.”</p><p>Each of these undergraduate experiences, facilitated by CELA and its offices and programs, has helped Xie develop a clear vision for her future. After graduating from �鶹��Ƶ, she plans to pursue a PhD in chemistry and become a pharmaceutical research scientist.</p><p>Xie is a nominee for the CELA Award, recognizing outstanding engagement and achievement in connecting academic pursuits with experiential learning.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Through lab research, fellowships, and national scholarships, Alex Xie ’26 is preparing for a PhD and a future in science.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2026-03-23T12:00:00Z">Mon, 03/23/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">By Kate Martin ’26</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3846">Engaged Liberal Arts</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2358">Undergraduate Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4080">Fellowships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4265">Biochemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>How CELA and CLEAR Empower Biochemistry Research</h1> <p>kviancou — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:24:30 +0000</p> <span>How CELA and CLEAR Empower Biochemistry Research</span> <span><span>kviancou</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-23T11:24:30-04:00" title="Monday, March 23, 2026 - 11:24">Mon, 03/23/2026 - 11:24</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The <a href="/center-engaged-liberal-arts">Center for Engaged Liberal Arts (CELA)</a> fosters a community where students connect academic learning with real-world application. For Julia Ludwig ’27, that community has helped her build meaningful experiences beyond the classroom, form lasting friendships, and give back whenever possible.</p><p>In her first year at �鶹��Ƶ, Ludwig joined a research lab for her winter term project. “What was meant to be a short-term project became the longest and most transformative research experience of my undergraduate career,” she says. “I was trusted to shape questions, interpret unexpected results, and follow curiosity where it led.”</p><p>Conducting research at �鶹��Ƶ gave Ludwig the foundation and confidence to seek out opportunities at other institutions. During a summer research experience at Ohio State University, using the skills she gained in �鶹��Ƶ research communities, including the �鶹��Ƶ Summer Research Institute, she felt empowered to help cultivate a collaborative dynamic among her new peers. “Having come from an environment where friendship and teamwork meant the same thing, I was able to adapt well and connect with others, motivating graduate students and lab leaders to celebrate their successes outside of the lab,” she says.</p><p>Through leadership roles within CELA, Ludwig has given back to the community that shaped her values. <a href="/clear">The Center for Learning, Education, and Research in the Sciences (CLEAR)</a> creates an inclusive and welcoming environment for students interested in STEM fields. As a CLEAR mentor, Ludwig supported fellow students in STEM courses. Later, as a CLEAR coordinator, she oversaw new cohorts of mentors and helped them grow into their roles. “Over time, I discovered that my greatest strength was not only achieving goals but also empowering people to uplift themselves and find solutions.”</p><p>Ludwig is grateful for how CELA has strengthened both her academic confidence and her sense of purpose. “I found something transformative in �鶹��Ƶ’s academic rigor and culture of cooperation.”</p><p>After �鶹��Ƶ, Ludwig, who majors in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry">biochemistry</a>, plans to pursue an MD-PhD, with the goal of bridging clinical insight with biochemical and neurobiological research.</p><p>Ludwig is a nominee for the CELA Award, recognizing outstanding engagement and achievement in connecting academic pursuits with experiential learning.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Through hands-on research, peer mentorship, and leadership in CLEAR, Julia Ludwig ’27 is preparing for a future at the intersection of medicine and neurobiological science.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2026-03-22T12:00:00Z">Sun, 03/22/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">By Kate Martin ’26</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3846">Engaged Liberal Arts</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2358">Undergraduate Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2594">CLEAR</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4075">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4265">Biochemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience" hreflang="und">Neuroscience</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>Kayla Elias ’25 Conducts Research at the Elahi Lab</h1> <p>lcurtis2 — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 17:58:03 +0000</p> <span>Kayla Elias ’25 Conducts Research at the Elahi Lab</span> <span><span>lcurtis2</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-08-27T13:58:03-04:00" title="Tuesday, August 27, 2024 - 13:58">Tue, 08/27/2024 - 13:58</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Describe what you’re doing this summer in your internship.</strong></p> <p>I am researching how brain vascular pathology can contribute to cognitive impairment and dementia. The Elahi lab investigates how core features of vascular pathology potentiate or accelerate neurodegenerative disease pathologies. For my project, we are focusing on the pathogenesis of a monogenic form of disease called CADASIL which is caused by mutations in the NOTCH3 gene. People affected can suffer from migraines, ischemic strokes and cognitive impairment. I am growing and differentiating induced pluripotent stem cells with the goal of modeling the blood brain barrier and how it can be compromised in disease. In addition, I am learning in silico bioinformatics techniques to analyze dysregulated gene expression in CADASIL based on transcriptomics data.</p> <p><strong>How did �鶹��Ƶ shape or influence you to pursue this internship? </strong></p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-left"> <figcaption>Photo credit: Todd France</figcaption> </figure> <p>In Spring 2023, I took Neurobiology of Disease and Neurotoxicology and Neurodegeneration Lab with <a href="/node/6061">Professor Gunnar Kwakye</a>, as well as Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, and Biochemistry with <a href="/node/5206">Professor Laura Romberg</a>. I loved these three classes, especially in tandem, because they inspired me to think about how a biochemical interaction can cause a series of molecular biological events leading to macroscopic symptomatology that impacts a patient’s quality of life. Therefore, they inspired me to pursue research questions such as those being addressed in the Elahi Lab about how molecular biological signaling pathways can be targeted to understand and treat neurological diseases.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>How does pursuing this internship align with your post-college life and career goals? </strong></p> <p>This is the exact kind of research I aspire to pursue in my own career. I hope to study the molecular pathogenesis of neurological disease, neurodegeneration and/or cancer, while pursuing Neurology or Neurosurgery as a physician-scientist. Dr. Elahi is a physician-scientist with an MD/PhD and I have been able to witness how she balances research and clinic. I’ve performed research, shadowed patient visits, and witnessed how the lab has set up an observational study of CADASIL patients, both remote and in-person, to assess samples for possible diagnostic biomarkers, while in parallel building mechanistic models to identify therapeutic targets.</p> <p><strong>How has the liberal arts education and way of thinking shaped how you approach science and research?</strong></p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Photo credit: Todd France</figcaption> </figure> <p>Medicine and research are, by nature, interdisciplinary, combining numerous approaches and perspectives to problem-solving. Medicine alone combines STEM and social science with communication skills, emotion and empathy with strength and resilience, and studied knowledge with adaptability. The cornerstones of research are also communication and organizational skills culled in multiple subjects, as well as creativity in developing an approach to a research question. For example, it is best to think about organizing research in terms of a story with a beginning–research question, middle–organized experimentation, and end–results and conclusions. �鶹��Ƶ’s liberal arts education encourages a breadth of training, preparing students to acquire these useful transferable skills. Also, science and medicine are both team sports and involve working with others who may think differently, and each contributes a unique set of ideas to problem-solving. �鶹��Ƶ is certainly an environment where unique individuals with their own sets of interests and backgrounds merge to create a multifaceted community which thus exposes students to different perspectives.</p> <p><em>If you're interested in a summer internship, connect with the <a href="/node/4521">Career Exploration & Development</a> team to learn more about exploring career interests, gaining real-world experience, and developing a professional network.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-10-11T12:00:00Z">Fri, 10/11/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Kayla Elias ’25 knows exactly what she wants to do after college, and is setting herself up perfectly via her <a href="/node/460136">Internship+</a> program placement at the Elahi Lab at the Friedman Brain Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. At �鶹��Ƶ, Kayla is on the <a href="/node/322681">pre-medical</a> track, majoring in <a href="/node/3411">neuroscience</a> and <a href="/node/25246">biochemistry</a>. As an aspiring physician-scientist, she is following Dr. Fanny Elahi, who does just that, and is learning how Dr. Elahi balances research and clinic work.</p> <p> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4097">Internship+ Program</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4096">Summer Internships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4265">Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4075">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3830">Pre-Medicine</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2403">Career Exploration & Development</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/gunnar-kwakye" hreflang="und">Gunnar Kwakye</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/laura-romberg" hreflang="und">Laura Romberg</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience" hreflang="und">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/pre-medicine-and-health-careers" hreflang="und">Pre-Medicine and Health Careers</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Kayla Elias ’25 at her internship at the Elahi Lab in New York City, NY.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Todd France</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>