Pronouns: he/him 

Graduation year: 2019 

Hometown: Lima, Peru 

Currently living in: Iowa City, IA 

Current occupation: Graduate Student at the University of Iowa in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology

What was your experience at CC like as a Molecular Biology major? 

My experience in the Molecular Biology program provided me with a strong foundation in biological sciences. I had the opportunity to engage in hands-on laboratory work and conduct research projects. The small class sizes and close interaction with professors and staff were particularly valuable, fostering an open and collaborative learning environment. 

Why were you interested in focusing on Molecular Biology as your major? 

I was drawn to Molecular Biology as my major due to my curiosity about the intricacies of life at the molecular level. It fascinated me to understand how genes encode information and how these genes may evolve over time. As I began interacting with the faculty in the department, Molecular Biology seemed like the ideal platform to explore these questions. 

How are you using your major in your post-CC life? 

In my post-CC life, I've continued my journey in Molecular Biology by pursuing graduate studies at the University of Iowa in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. As a graduate student, my research tries to understand the evolutionary trajectories of viruses such as HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 by either running experiments to elucidate the fitness cost/gain of mutations in the virus or by developing machine learning models aimed to predict future mutation emergence. My research is built upon the foundational knowledge and skills I acquired during my years at CC. Both wet-lab experience and basic bioinformatics knowledge were of great use early in my Ph.D. studies.