Why did you choose the University of Iowa?

“As I was wrapping up my master's studies, I was eager to continue my research in cardiovascular disease. I started looking for PhD opportunities in cardiovascular research labs across the U.S. and came across Dr. Ethan Anderson's lab at the University of Iowa. I reached out to him to see if he needed a PhD student, and luckily, he said yes and was willing to have me in his lab.”

What was it about Iowa that made you want to study/live here?

“The kindness of the people at Iowa is what stood out the most to me. Additionally, Iowa City is a safe and pleasant place to live. It offers a variety of sports activities, like football games, and has excellent recreational facilities. As someone passionate about sports, I discovered Olympic weightlifting and CrossFit and was actively involved for three years.  These activities not only strengthened my body but also my mind. 

I also worked part time as a group fitness instructor at recreational center, which helped me relieve stress and make new friends who share a positive mindset.

From a research perspective, Iowa has all the facilities I needed, including genetics, metabolomic, and microscopy cores. People often say that the University of Iowa is like the Harvard of the Midwest. The state-of-the-art facilities and talented researchers here made it easy to collaborate with labs from different departments and achieve my research goals.”

Why did you choose to attend the UI College of Pharmacy?

“The main reason I came to Iowa was because of Dr. Ethan Anderson's lab, which is part of the College of Pharmacy. But there's more to it than that. My educational journey has always been closely tied to pharmacy – I did my undergrad in pharmacy and then went on to get a master's in pharmacology. So, in a way, I've been part of the pharmacy world ever since undergrad, and I've never really strayed far from it. That's why the UI College of Pharmacy felt like the right place for me to continue my studies.”

What do you want others to know about the UI College of Pharmacy? Why choose us?

“The first thing I'd highlight is the building itself – it's modern, clean, and well-equipped with multiple rooms designed for meetings and studies. This means that whether you want to study alone or with a group, you'll find the perfect spot without any distractions. 

Then there are the research facilities, which are top tier. Labs are equipped with shared, cutting-edge equipment, and there's plenty of space to conduct your experiments. 

The people at Iowa are another huge plus – students were friendly and open to sharing resources, and the professors' offices were just around the corner from our desks and labs. The professors were always ready for a chat or to brainstorm new ideas with you.

If you're looking for a place where you can study effectively, conduct innovative research, and build a strong academic network, the UI College of Pharmacy is the place to be.”

What were some of your most memorable positive experiences at the College of Pharmacy?

"It was a great ride since day one, with a consistent positive vibe. I've felt both supported and free to pursue my research. Engaging in graduate student seminars and the annual PSET retreat allowed me to share my own research, receive valuable feedback, improve my presentation skills, and understand the work of other labs. The seminar series with guest speakers broadened my perspective on different fields, and the luncheons with these experts provided me a chance to form connections, receive career guidance, and draw inspiration from their experiences. 

Furthermore, the college provided financial assistance for students to attend national conferences, which is crucial for career development.

A personal highlight for me was when Dr. Ethan Anderson nominated me for the Dare to Discover campaign. It allowed me to communicate the significance of our research to the broader community, emphasizing its potential impact on human health. It's moments like these that reminded me of the value of our work and the support of the UI College of Pharmacy in bringing our research to the forefront."

Tell me a little bit about your pharmacy interests/research.

"I've always been interested in studying heart diseases. My PhD project focused on prohibitins (PHBs), a protein complex essential for cellular function, particularly within the mitochondria. PHBs are crucial for maintaining mitochondrial integrity and function, regulating the cell cycle, and modulating cell death. My research aimed to explore how PHBs regulate mitochondrial energy production and gene transcription in both healthy and diseased hearts. Our findings indicated that mice lacking PHBs in their hearts developed heart failure, characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction, and increased glutamine metabolism. We also found that feeding these mice a diet high in glutamine helped improve their heart function, which suggests that dietary interventions could be a potential therapeutical approach for supporting heart health in patients with cardiovascular conditions."