Tri Beta, the National Biology Honorary Society at Heidelberg, has organized a COVID-Friendly Professional Development Series which will take place throughout the 2020 Fall and 2021 Spring semesters this academic year. The goal of this series is to help students in the sciences boost their resumes, gain insight into the lives of alumni working in the field or continuing their education, and better prepare themselves for life after graduation. These events are being co-sponsored by SCRUBS, the pre-professional organization on campus, and the Heidelberg Chemistry Club.
On October 8, Heidelberg students were joined by three Heidelberg alumni who all graduated in 2020; they are Alexia Page-Boyd, Chase Morrison, and Caleb Frye. These students all graduated with a Bachelors of Science, but have taken very different paths after graduation. Throughout the panel, the students at Heidelberg were able to learn more about the current programs these alumni are enrolled in, their plan for the next 5 years, and how Heidelberg helped make them into the young, successful scientists they are today. The panel was created in order for science major students to ask alumni about their experiences while at Heidelberg and where they are now.
Where Are They Now?
Alexia Page-Boyd is currently in her first semester of graduate at Chatham University. While at Chatham, Page-Boyd is pursuing her Masters in Sustainability along with focuses in aquaculture and aquaponics. When asked how she decided upon a school, Page-Boyd said that it was as if she had to “jump in the deep end and learn how to swim.” She had started with a list of 15 schools, made a list of pros and cons, and narrowed the schools down to three before choosing Chatham.
Chase Morrison has also started working towards earning his Masters degree at Grand Valley State University for Biomedical Sciences. A current student at Heidelberg asked what the alumni wished they would have devoted more time to while they were at Heidelberg. Morrison’s advice was to study for papers or exams sooner than you think you need to, as grades are very important especially when looking at grad schools. Morrison also said, “anything that you feel like you are not good at, don't be afraid to put yourself in an uncomfortable position (in order) to get better at it.”
Caleb Frye is attending Duquesne University and is working towards his Ph.D. in chemistry along with a specialization in biochemistry. Currently, he is working on research that involves RNA biochemistry. Frye was asked about his time being a teacher’s assistant and how that has benefited him. “I think making at least 10 solutions every single week helped me out so much in the long run because now, in grad school, I can get to the lab in twenty minutes and have enough solutions prepared for the entire weeks worth of research.” Frye also added that he has an added layer of comfortability with the extra experience. “My advisor doesn’t have to look over my shoulder to make sure I know how to make a magnesium chloride solution.”
For students seeking more information on the COVID-Friendly Professional Development Series or how to get involved in these groups, please contact Christina Mealwitz, President of Tri-Beta, at cmealwit [at] heidelberg.edu.
Story by Bailey Walter, '23.