Indiana Wesleyan University is pleased to highlight a few of our Natural Science students and alumni in their successes as they are accepted into master’s and doctorate programs, are selected for competitive research programs, and work in laboratories and clinics.
IWU junior Ashley Rice is pursuing a career as a Ph.D. scientist. She was accepted into the 2020 ACS IRES RISE DAAD program – a highly competitive research program for undergraduate students. She would have conducted research in Germany, but due to COVID-19, the trip was canceled. Since then, she has accepted a summer position as a SURF student at Mayo Clinic where she works in the Virology and Gene Therapy Track under Dr. Roberto Cattaneo.
“My experiences at IWU have been extremely formative in my growth as a scientist and independent thinker,” Rice said. “The combination of high-quality classes, ability to partake in novel research and incredible mentorship from professors both in and outside of the classroom has given me a solid foundation in preparation for graduate school. I participated in IWU's Hodson Research Institute under Dr. Jolie Leonard (summer of 2019) and Dr. Ben Linger (summer of 2020). Both of these experiences have immensely prepared me for my current position as a Mayo Clinic SURF student.”
Jacob Kirby graduated from IWU in December of 2020. He’s been accepted to the Indiana School of Medicine, and since graduation, he’s been working as an adjunct lab instructor until classes begin at IU. Jacob and his wife, Hannah, were on IWU’s competitive cheer team.
“Indiana Wesleyan does a great job of pouring into every student and providing guidance, encouragement, and support to all,” Kirby said. “My time at IWU prepared me to succeed in every aspect of life as a graduate and laid a foundation for me to continue growing as a student and a person. The combination of rigorous coursework and compassionate teaching not only prepared me for my graduate education but also inspired me to continue to work hard and to do my best to make a positive impact on others.”
Other Division of Natural Sciences students are experiencing similar success. Makayla Standfest was also accepted to the Indiana University School of Medicine. Outside of class, she works as an EKG tech at Marion General Hospital. And IWU Alumna Ashley Springer is pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy concurrently with a master’s degree in Pharmacogenomics at Manchester University.
