Student Profiles
Lisa Korn
Earth Systems major ‘13
Danville, New Hampshire
Coolest UMass Experience: Interning for the Lunar and Planetary Institute at NASA in Houston, studying the Gale Crater on Mars.
Mike Esposito
Plant Soil and Insect Sciences major ‘13
Ashburnham, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Internship at Smith College Botanical Garden, working in every part—conservatory, collections, forestry.
Jaime Budynkiewicz
Physics and Astronomy major ‘13
Chicopee, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Analyzing galaxy spectra at an internship in Hawaii—one of the best places for astronomical observation.
Keenan Mahan
Junior Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major
Charlton, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Serving as president of the Pre-Med Society, and working in a neuroscience research lab.
Molly Stevens
Microbiology major '13
West Roxbury, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Analyzing DNA using the PCR technique—my first try was perfect and so exciting!
Jay Gilbert
Food Science major '13
Berlin, New Hampshire
Coolest UMass Experience: Developing a new product: Joe Nuts, liquid-filled solid foods--my partner and I hope to bring this product to market.
Tara Mahendrarajah
Senior Microbiology major
Framingham, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: “Working in a lab has taught me what I’m capable of, and has solidified my path for a career in science.”
Kyle Reeves
Chemistry major '11
Shirley, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Working in a chemistry research lab and learning how to channel his passion for environmental conservation with his academic interests.
Callie Ericson
Psychology major '11
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Spending a semester abroad in Cape Town, South Africa was “one of the most amazing experiences” and redirected her academic focus.
Ashley Horner
Senior Food Science major
Marshfield, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Developing a new flavor for the Italian line of Gatorade X-plore as a summer intern at PepsiCo (through UMass internship program).
Matthew Liu
Senior Chemistry major
Randolph, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Being the supplemental instructor for Organic Chemistry "helped me see how much I want to teach."
Erika Otero
Senior Biology major and Pre-med
Elmwook Park, New Jersey
Coolest UMass Experience: Spending a semester abroad in Thailand and discovering that "whenever I had free time, I did things that only a bio major would do."
Alexandra Clymer '10
Building and Construction Technology
Somerset, New Jersey
Coolest UMass Experience: Visiting post-Katrina New Orleans and seeing first-hand the application of low-income, energy-efficient building. Can't wait to see new building projects from start to finish.
Nemat Sharaf '10
Biochemistry
Boston, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Watching a blind woman regain her sight while volunteering in the ER. Working under Nobel Laureate Dr. Craig Mello at UMass Medical School.
PJ Stanley Hamel '10
Pre-vet
Winchester, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Helping Peruvian farmers learn skills to support their Alpaca herds. After vet school, hopes to care for large and wild animals internationally.
Heather DeRoy
Senior Geology & Psychology double degree
Gardner, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Discovering she was a science person after all! Can't wait to inspire middle-schoolers using "fun" scientific activities.
Dima Tokar '10
Microbiology and Finance double degree
Brookline, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Working with scientists aboard the research ship Atlantis to study hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
Dave Vaillencourt '10
Earth Systems major
Whitman, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Spending last summer in arctic Norway doing climate research: "At midnight you'd have your sunglasses on."
