What I know now:
During my time at Penn State majoring in microbiology and minoring in biochemistry and molecular biology I have learned a lot academically to help me be successful in the microbiology field. From taking courses in virology, microbiology, immunology, medical microbiology, and microbial physiology and function I was able to develop a start base that allows me to be prepared to enter the field now. I believe my strongest areas are in virology and microbial physiology and function. I have taken multiple courses in virology, both in pathogenesis of viruses and in general virology. These courses allowed me to help develop an interest in virology. By taking courses in microbial physiology and function, I was able to develop an interest that helped me decide what research to do in undergrad. Microbial physiology allowed me to gain valuable knowledge that helped me in the research laboratory. By doing research with lipoproteins in bacteria and other projects, I have been able to gain important laboratory skills and confidence that are necessary for the microbiology field.
5 year plan:
In the next 5 years, I have multiple goals. My first main goal is to go to East Stroudsburg University for the next two years to obtain a master degree in biology. During my time at ESU, I hope to expand my knowledge and focus my classes on microbiology courses. When I am at ESU, I hope to further my research experience. I hope to do research relating to my undergraduate research by working with microbial structures and seeing their interactions with the immune system. In the next 5 years, I hope to gain more experience by internships in microbiology. I will be looking at internships at Pfizer, Sanofi, and other pharmaceutical companies that are working on vaccine development. By gaining more research experience and scientific skills, I will be helping work towards my main goal. My main goal is that I hope to start in the next 5 years to be accepted and start working for my PhD in microbiology.
10 year and plus plan:
In the next 10 years, I hope to finish with all my education and have a PhD in microbiology. I hope to be working for a pharmaceutical company like Pfizer or Sanofi. I would like to work at Pfizer or Sanofi because I believe these companies are changing the future when it comes to advances in vaccines and other drug developments for viruses and bacteria. Sanofi and Pfizer are leading pharmaceutical companies known throughout the world for their research and work in the medical field. In this time, I hope to be working in the research and development area in a pharmaceutical company helping developing vaccines for viruses or working with microbial structures and their interaction with the immune system. I hope to become an expert in this field and make a difference. By the time my career ends, I hope to be known as an expert in microbial structures or in virology and vaccines development. I hope to look back by the time I retire knowing I made the world different and help save people’s lives in the development of vaccines and drugs