> About:
Julia graduated with a B.S. in Biology from the University of Florida in Spring 2024. In the first year of her undergraduate studies, she worked in the Designer Glycans Lab led by Dr. Câtâlin Voiniciuc studying mannanase mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana. In her second year, she worked in the lab of Dr. Melike Caglayan studying amino acids that control DNA end alignment in DNA ligases, completing her honors thesis in Spring 2024. She also worked in the lab of Dr. Julie Meyer in her second year as a Florida Sea Grant Intern, analyzing relationships and changes over time in the microbiome of coral. In Spring 2024, she was inducted into the University of Florida Honors Program Hall of Fame. Julia joined the Shaw lab in Fall 2024 as a doctoral student, exploring factors that contribute to complicated S. aureus bacteremia.
> Academic and Career Goals:
Currently, Julia is pursuing a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of South Florida. Through this program and the direction of her mentor, Dr. Shaw, she is exploring factors that contribute to S. aureus bacteremia in the host. Her long-term goal after graduation is going into the biotechnology industry to research and develop novel tools for treatment and detection of bacterial infections in the host.
> Academic and Career Preparation:
Earning the BACE credential jump-started Julia’s career in research. Her first lab hired her because of the credential and the skills she acquired while earning it. This lab experience and additional skills allowed Julia to obtain a position in labs focusing on biochemistry and microbiology—her desired research focus—and eventually led her to be admitted to a Cell and Molecular Biology PhD program.
> Lessons Learned and Advice:
A piece of advice Julia would give to anyone applying for a research position is to not be afraid to try. You never know what simple action or application may lead you to your goals. Reach out to professors, apply for prestigious awards, present at a conference. Take advantage of opportunities that present themselves.
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