My Route to Bioinformatics!
My route to bioinformatics was a rather direct route, and for that I am lucky. I first came into Loyola as a Biology major, but felt as if Biology wasn't the right major for me, as I wanted a major that is more mathematical and computational. As such, after getting accepted to Loyola, I changed my major to Biophysics, which, at the time, I thought was the perfect mix of math and natural science.
But then I, on a whim, attended the accepted student's majors fair. There, I talked to Dr. Laten, one of the Genetics professors in the Biology Department. This is when it clicked: bioinformatics. It was the perfect mix of biology, mathematics, but also computation and programming as well. I switched my major that same day. Bioinformatics was perfect.
Luckily, this decision was totally the right one. I have stuck with bioinformatics, but also added a few majors as well. Because bioinformatics is so cross-disciplinary, I have added a major in Biology and minors in Biostatistics and Computer Science as well. But away from paper degrees, I have been given so many opportunities through it, such as research roles at Loyola University Chicago, the Stritch School of Medicine, as well as the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. These experiences were some of the most unique and challenging throughout my time here, and I am very grateful for them. Further than that, my time as a bioinformatics major, along with clinical experiences I have had, have really influenced me to pursue an MD/PhD in Computational Biology- a path that I had never considered coming into Loyola.
But then I, on a whim, attended the accepted student's majors fair. There, I talked to Dr. Laten, one of the Genetics professors in the Biology Department. This is when it clicked: bioinformatics. It was the perfect mix of biology, mathematics, but also computation and programming as well. I switched my major that same day. Bioinformatics was perfect.
Luckily, this decision was totally the right one. I have stuck with bioinformatics, but also added a few majors as well. Because bioinformatics is so cross-disciplinary, I have added a major in Biology and minors in Biostatistics and Computer Science as well. But away from paper degrees, I have been given so many opportunities through it, such as research roles at Loyola University Chicago, the Stritch School of Medicine, as well as the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. These experiences were some of the most unique and challenging throughout my time here, and I am very grateful for them. Further than that, my time as a bioinformatics major, along with clinical experiences I have had, have really influenced me to pursue an MD/PhD in Computational Biology- a path that I had never considered coming into Loyola.