Hello world! My name is Sarah and I am a third year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Department at UConn Health in Farmington, CT. I graduated from the University of Saint Joseph, an all-women university in West Hartford, CT, and I am originally from Southington, CT (homebody, I know). My career goals are still ambiguous at this time (which is totally normal), but I have immense passion for educating, mentoring, and communicating science, as well as constantly learning myself. These goals align with several potential jobs, and I cannot wait to see where I end up after my PhD.
When I applied to college, I applied as an elementary education major, with a minor in science. I loved working with school-age children, and I loved all of my high school science classes so it felt like a perfect fit. However, when I begin my first year of college, I fell in love with the rigor and intensity of college courses. I remember feeling pushed in a way I had never been pushed in high school, and it was addicting. I almost immediately changed my major to biology. During my sophomore year, I saw a listing for a research intern in a lab at UConn Health. This particular lab studied ocular disease, of which I had literally no interest. I applied anyways. Within two weeks, I accepted the position and was walking into my first research lab with no experience but a hell of a lot of excitement. Over the next 2 years, I worked in this research lab, took 18-20 credits a semester, and played a college sport. Despite my busy college life, I never once thought about stepping back from the lab. I fell in love with the constant quest for knowledge and answers. During my senior year, I applied for the PhD program at UConn Health in hopes that I would work in this same lab for another 4-5 years.
Although I was accepted, I spent my first year under immense pressure to help my current lab secure funding so I could join as a full time graduate student. Unfortunately, our efforts failed and I found myself lost, searching for another lab to accept me before I would have to leave the program. Luckily, the neuroscience department chair took me in and allowed me to create a project I love in collaboration with my previous ocular disease lab. I now study Alzheimer’s disease in the retina and I love every minute of it.
Through my graduate school experience, I have pursued opportunities to help me decide what I want to be “when I grow up”. I have taught several lab sections at my alma mater (University of Saint Joseph) and have thoroughly enjoyed the chance to work with undergraduate students with a passion so similar to mine. I have volunteered with STEM Education and Advocacy programs that provide better science education to high school students. I have helped educate students about life as a researcher (most don’t even know it is an option!). Though I am grateful for all of these experiences, none of them have felt like the perfect fit. I am currently working on securing a post-doctoral position for post-graduation to widen my experiences, and help me hone in on my future career.
This is an important reminder for undergraduate AND graduate students that you don’t have to have it all figured out. You are allowed to be a multi-passionate and multi-faceted person. I am an excellent scientist and teacher, and I intend to use these different identities to have a fulfilling career. I won’t lie, many days I ruminate on what my future will look like, but I do my best to stay in the moment. I love being in lab, I love my research, and I love being a scientist. The rest will fall into place.
Thanks so much for reading, and if you’re interested in connecting, I’m on Instagram as @phd.oin.it.
