2020-2021 Biology Department Fellows

Echo Cain is a non binary artist, musician, dancer, ecologist, and writer from Loveland, Ohio. They are a senior here at Denison and spend most of their time out in the woods at the Homestead. Their biological interests fall primarily into the practical realm of understanding habitat degradation, global warming, and especially wetland conservation.

Biology has always been the subject that I was most interested in and wanted to pursue. I am grateful for the Biology Department here at Denison for helping me develop strong lab skills and expand my general knowledge on a vast range of biological topics. There has not been a single biology class that I have taken that I have not enjoyed. The labs have always been my favorite part of each class, whether they were spent out in the bioreserve, or in lab working with E. coli.

The relationships that I have made here with both my fellow students and faculty are something that I will forever cherish. I’d like to thank Dr. Rhodes and our Xenopus laevis frog friends for giving me the opportunity to conduct research and helping guide me towards what I would like to do post Denison. Being a TA for Neurophysiology has allowed me to further refine my own knowledge within the neuroscience field, as well as repeat some of my favorite labs that I have done here. I am honored to have been selected as a Senior Fellow and am excited to take all that I have learned here in my life post Denison.

Even before arriving at Denison, I knew I wanted to major in biology. In high school, I was fortunate enough to take both genomics and microbiology classes, which inspired my love of all things cellular and molecular. My interest in these topics was perfectly complemented by the Biology Department’s core curriculum, which allowed me to continue exploring the inner workings of uni- and multicellular life. Additionally, even though I initially did not see myself taking ecology classes on campus, having the chance to learn about the various disciplines of biology has allowed me to see the field in a more well-rounded way.

As grateful as I am for the opportunity to have studied these various disciplines in this department, I am even more thankful for the experience I have had working in Dr. Yoo’s lab, exploring the role of the PKHD1L1 gene in epithelial cancer cells. My interest in this research started as a short, five-week Early Experience endeavor the summer after my freshman year and has since turned into a year-long Senior Research project. Research has challenged me in more ways than I can count, but has also helped me to grow, learn, and adapt when my plans do not go as expected. I am grateful that I will be able to take these problem-solving skills with me as I continue my path to medical school, where I plan to tackle language-barrier-based healthcare disparities.

Although I feel as if I was just in Biology 210 and can’t imagine graduating, I know that all the connections I have made on campus have prepared me for what is to come. I am so grateful to Dr. Yoo for mentoring me through both classes and research during my time at Denison and am honored to culminate my experience in the Biology Department as a Senior Fellow.

Some of my favorite memories from my time at Denison have been working, being with friends, and talking with professors and students alike in Talbot. The 4th floor has been my favorite place on campus and the biology department has supported me immensely through my Denison career. The biology department has given me new friends, gained over late-night study sessions, inspiring and supportive professors, and helped me to develop my passions for research. I have learned how to think critically, ask questions, and learn how to be a leader in the sciences. I am proud of the opportunities I have had to give back to the Denison biology department through tutoring and as a TA.

After graduation I will be attending University of Wisconsin Madison to earn my PhD and follow my passions for research. The biology department has given me the tools and confidence to follow this path. I would like to thank all my professors who have helped me develop my passions through showing me their own. Above all I would like to express my deepest gratitude for my mentor Dr. Thompson. Through my years spent in his classes, research lab, or as his TA, he has pushed me to become confident in my abilities (even if we are still working on my math skills) and taught me to appreciate science and research.

I could not be where I am without the support that I have received from Dr. Thompson and everyone else in the department. I am truly honored to be a part of such an amazing department and will always remember my time in Talbot. Thank you.

I have always been attracted to the disciplines found in STEM because of the certainty it provides. In math and science, questions have attainable answers; errors in understanding are easily clarified by pointing out miscalculations or conceptual phenomena that weren’t accounted for. However, growing up on a farm, biology has always had a special place in my heart. Biology provides us insights into both the molecular world and its relations to us but also to the larger world as an interconnected ecosystem full of interacting individuals and species. I feel lucky to be a biology student for I know that throughout my life, as new discoveries are made, I will be constantly learning new things and watching as science progresses. For, to live a life as a biologist is to live a life as a student.

Here at Denison, my interest and love for biology have been fostered by my professors and peers in the biology department. My professors have a genuine love for biology but also a genuine love for teaching. They are always eager to meet with students to answer questions or have conversations about biology for the pure interest in it. My professors have always made a conscious effort to connect biology to other disciplines throughout the biology curriculum, developing an enriching liberal arts education. I have always said that the biology department is one of the most collaborative departments at Denison. I met some of my best friends at Denison studying for biology exams, conducting experiments in lab periods, or just hanging out in beloved Talbot. I have also been lucky enough to call Dr. Libel my mentor throughout my time in the biology department both in his classroom, research lab, and working with him as a TA. I am sad to say goodbye to Talbot, my fantastic biology professors, and friends I have made as part of the biology community. But as I leave, I know that Denison’s biology department has provided me an invaluable education that will serve as the foundation on which my future endeavors can grow on.

I have been interested in biology since the age of 3 when I first watched Sir David Attenborough documentary films. I was fascinated by the diversity and all those bizarre creatures which live on the Earth. Therefore, I eventually majored in Biology when I came to Denison. From thousands of miles away from my hometown Beijing, China, my college life in Denison was happy and fulfilling. I learned many things about biology and made friends with other biology students and professors. In my Junior year, I studied abroad in Tanzania, Africa for a semester to study wildlife. This experience raised my questions and interest in the relationship between wildlife and humans. In my senior year, I took Conservation Biology with Dr. Homan. In that class, I realized that the human-wildlife conflict is a worldwide problem, and I am willing to solve that problem for the rest of my life. I have so many things to thank the Denison Biology Department. Dr. Rettig is always here to help me and provide so much good advice. Dr. Smith offered me a fantastic experience of senior research even though I am studying remotely from China. All professors and staff are friendly and helpful. I learned so much in academics and how to live a life. After Denison, I first planned to go to graduate school for Conservation Biology. But, because of COVID-19, I have to delay my application. My current plan is to work for a wildlife conservation organization in China, with the same passion for Biology as I always do.

When I look back at the past four years, many of my memories are here in the Biology Department. I’ve lived in many different residence halls in my time here at Denison, but I like to think that my more permanent place of residence is on the floors of Talbot. My time at Denison has been greatly formative and has taught me so much. I feel very comfortable here at my “home on the hill” and I attribute that greatly to the Biology Department. This has been a place where I can feel comfortable to learn and not be afraid to ask questions, where I have been supported by professors, peers, and staff.

I feel extremely fortunate to have been a part of this welcoming scientific community and am so thankful for it. Through my research with my amazing mentor, Dr. Yoo, I have been able to develop my curiosity and problem-solving skills. Through my classes, I have gained a broad knowledge in the many different fields of biology. Everyone I have met in this department has been so supportive and have helped me grow as a person. I have made lifelong friends here.

Although I will be moving on to attend medical school in the fall, I will always remember the memories and friends I have made here at Denison. I am so appreciative of my time here in the Biology department and hope that I’ve helped to contribute to this wonderful community in meaningful ways.

I’m a first-generation college student so happy to be pursuing a double major in biology and environmental studies. I intend to work in the environmental education field and help everyone have access to learning about the world we live in.

Through Denison, I have had the opportunity to spend my summers as a camp counselor, kayak tour guide, and in wildlife rehabilitation. I was the treasurer of the Synapse Magazine, a student representative on the Environmental Studies Programming Committee and, also a senior fellow for environmental studies.

It feels impossible to speak about my time at Denison without emphasizing the positive role the Biology Department has contributed to my undergraduate experience. My experience pursuing a B.S. in biology and minor in chemistry has exceeded the high expectations I had when I committed to attending Denison. I frequently tell other students that I have had only positive experiences with the professors within the Biology Department, and I say this with full sincerity. The passion that each faculty member has for the sciences, and their desire to see students succeed, is tangible. I have not only enjoyed every biology course that I have taken at Denison, but each course has challenged me academically, allowing me to strengthen and refine my academic interests over the past four years.

My interests within biology have always been focused on the molecular level but taking upper-level courses allowed me to discover my passion for molecular genetics and the underlying role of genetics in human diseases. Through various course assignments, I have been able to individually focus on this academic interest, studying the genetic basis of both complex and Mendelian disorders, and the role of abnormal gene expression in diseases ranging from type 2 diabetes to cancer.

My experiences conducting research, working as a biology and chemistry tutor, and working as a TA have also been central to my experience at Denison. Through tutoring and working as a TA, I have further solidified the knowledge I gained from courses and have been able to engage with the department through a different perspective. Furthermore, conducting research on an epigenetic form of UV resistance in Dr. Thompson’s lab has allowed me to gain invaluable research experience, strengthen my communication skills, and develop confidence in my research capabilities. The mentorship and education I have gained from pursuing a degree in biology has instilled me with the confidence to continue my education after graduation, motivating my pursuit of a PhD in biomedical sciences. I am incredibly thankful for the knowledge, mentorship, and support I have gained from the Biology Department during my time at Denison, and excited for the next chapter of my scientific education.