\u201cThe atmosphere and campus itself are just beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Originally from Eugene, Oregon, Grace chose OSU for its financial accessibility as well as the holistic approach offered by the Honors College. \u201cThe atmosphere and campus itself are just beautiful,\u201d she says. She got involved with the Honors College in her first year and is now in her third year at OSU, majoring in biochemistry and biophysics, with minors in public health and history.<\/p>\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nSince arriving at OSU, Grace has proven herself to be an exceptionally versatile student \u2014 a testament to not only her personal drive, but to the expansive opportunities offered by the Honors College. In her current position with the Mehl Research Group<\/a> \u2014 an opportunity she discovered through an honors colloquium course \u2014 she is conducting groundbreaking research on non-canonical amino acids. Her primary role in the lab is related to crystallography, where she maps different proteins. \u201cBeing involved in a lab helped me learn basic techniques, and I also learned to have a job that was very independent, which was good for me,\u201d she says. Her biggest accomplishment in the lab has been the protein purification and crystallization of a d2 domain protein, which hadn\u2019t been analyzed by anyone before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Recently, Grace\u2019s focus has shifted from the lab to two new areas of interest: public health and reproductive justice, both of which she discovered through resources found at OSU. Her passion for these topics led to her involvement with a public health research group, where she worked alongside Dr. Jessica Gorman, an associate professor in OSU\u2019s College of Public Health and Human Sciences<\/a>, researching the effects of cancer survivorship on reproductive health and interpersonal relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n OSU Rotaract<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Of all her accomplishments at OSU, Grace is particularly proud of her role as president of OSU Rotaract<\/a>. \u201cThis is a club focused on community service, like a rotary club,\u201d she says. She joined midway through her first year, when the COVID-19 pandemic started. \u201cIt was small at first, but it allowed me to get close with the people in the club,\u201d she says. They went out and volunteered in their spare time and focused on ways they could partner with other community groups and further support other clubs on campus. Grace was elected president in September 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Girls’ Empowerment Education and Outreach Club<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Grace\u2019s on-campus involvement is not limited to the Rotaract Club, either. In May 2021, she was elected co-president of the Girls’ Empowerment Education and Outreach Club<\/a>, a student-led organization whose mission is to \u201cengage elementary, middle school and high school girls in topics related to the STEM fields and to inspire girls to pursue careers related to these fields.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI found this group through the College of Engineering<\/a>,\u201d she says, noting that she was one of the only non-engineering students involved at first. Last year, the club focused on virtual outreach with local elementary schools, empowering and engaging girls across multiple age groups \u2014 efforts that were especially important during remote learning. Now, the club creates STEM boxes that are given to local elementary and middle school classrooms, with the intended goal of getting girls involved with and passionate about STEM. \u201cThe Girls’ Empowerment Education and Outreach Club is a really awesome way to inspire young girls, and it helps current OSU students who are interested in mentoring, equity and STEM,\u201d Grace says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI believe wholeheartedly that research can expand your professional development.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n Grace became a physics learning assistant during spring term of 2021, giving her a chance to continue her involvement in STEM in a new way. She works closely with Dr. Paul Emigh, an instructor in OSU\u2019s College of Science<\/a>. \u201cThe 200-level physics series inspired me to become an LA because it was the first subject that truly challenged me, so I wanted to help others,\u201d she says. At the time, nearly all of the learning assistants were men, inspiring Grace\u2019s desire to provide more representation in the physics field for women. \u201cI want to create a more supportive environment in STEM,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/1811\/files\/2022\/09\/IMG_5813-cropped.jpeg\")
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