• What is your degree program and expected graduation date? B.S. Biomedical Sciences, December 2018

• Please describe your research: Our team aims to disrupt the initial processes leading to tumor formation throughout nearly all cancers. We use both existing monoclonal antibodies, as well as develop our own, in hopes of discovering a potential therapeutic.

• In simple terms, why does this research matter? Cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases in the modern world, and this will only become more true in the future. If we can stop cancer cells from forming tumors or even disrupt existing tumors, it becomes exponentially easier to deliver other therapeutics to and eventually kill such cancerous cells.

• How soon after starting at the University of Iowa were you able to participate in research? I began in the Soll Lab immediately following the start of the Spring semester my sophomore year at Iowa.

• How has being involved in research made you more successful at the University of Iowa? In addition to the plethora of knowledge and skills that research has provided, the people I’ve gotten to meet and friendships that I’ve developed have only pushed me to become the best student, researcher, and person I can be.

• What are your career goals and/or plans after graduation? I will be attending medical school beginning in the Fall of 2019 with hopes of one day practicing as a medical oncologist.

• Faculty mentor/advisor: My advisor is Dr. David Soll and my mentor is Dr. Daniel Lusche.

• Hometown: Denison, IA

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