Biology Major

Richard has a private practice as a chiropractor at Cutting Edge Chiropractic. During his journey to becoming a chiropractor, he attended six colleges and universities. “The quality of education in Eastern’s biology program was by far superior to the others. The professors are hands down the best I’ve had.”

Anthony is the operations manager at New England Marine Monitoring. “During my time at Eastern I was able to supplement my degree with a variety of independent research, travel and important life experiences that have been invaluable in both my professional and personal life.”

Biology major Jacob Dayton was Connecticut’s only Goldwater Scholar in 2018. “This recognition is a testament to the strength of Eastern’s biology program and the value of the research experiences I’ve had.” Throughout his time at Eastern, Dayton conducted leading research about migratory birds with his mentor Biology Professor Patty Szczys. He is an Ph.D. candidate at Tufts University.

Biology major Elizabeth (DelBuono) Charnysh earned her master’s degree in genetic counseling at Sarah Lawrence College and is now a clinical research project manager at the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine — where she conducted breast cancer research as an intern. “I was surrounded by some of the most brilliant individuals in the world, and was immersed in the race to find an answer, a gene, a treatment, a cure.”

Biology major Kate Arildsen ’22 presented research at the Virtual Worldwide Summit of the American Society of Plant Biologists. Her research looks at a mutation of the legume “medicago truncatula,” which causes irregular pigmentation on the plant’s leaves. “By studying this irregularly pigmented mutant, we can help other scientists to create more nutritious fruits and vegetables.”

Megan is in the MS in genetics counseling program at the University of Pittsburgh. At Eastern she interned with Middlesex Health Cancer Center as a digestive health screening analyst. She screened patients for hereditary cancer while collaborating with medical providers. “My main piece of advice to students would be to continue reaching out, as it is the primary way to find opportunities of this nature.”

Nelson is a first-generation college student who received the Barnard Award, the highest academic recognition of the Connecticut state universities. “I knew going to college was the only option if I was going to change the cycle of poverty my family had endured for generations. Being recognized for the Henry Barnard award has taught me that hard work really does pay off.”

"I chose cognitive neuroscience because I am endlessly fascinated by the three-pound physiological mystery that resides between our ears. My professors provide leading-edge knowledge and personalized instruction that help me toward my goal of becoming a Ph.D. student in neurobiology. They share the same passion for their own subjects and bring that energy to every lecture. I hope someday I will be running my own neuroscience lab!"

Rathana is a quality control analyst at Lonza, a multinational biotechnology company. “I’ve always wanted to learn about what I am surrounded by in a scientific way . . . how things are developed, studied and the role they play in society.”

Yollaine is a microbiologist in the Chronic Viral Diseases Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, working on projects related to chronic fatigue syndrome. “Eastern greatly empowered me to fulfill my career aspirations. At the CDC, I am developing and applying knowledge that not only meets public health needs but contributes to public health's mission.”

Yuberki is a registered nurse at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital. “My biology degree helped tremendously in nursing school and currently at the hospital. It’s been tough as a new graduate, learning through the COVID-19 pandemic, but I established a good work ethic, organization and communication skills during my time at Eastern to guide me through.”

Biology major Clayton Pollock is a National Park Service biologist in the U.S. Virgin Islands. “I wouldn’t be here today without the foundation I received from the Biology Department. I will never forget my experiences in Belize and San Salvador Island; those opportunities helped define my career aspirations and provided a great deal of practical experience.”

Working with faculty mentor Bryan Connolly, Dylan explored the possibility of accelerating the germination of the northern blazing star flower, a species decimated by habitat loss, herbicides and unchecked rabbit populations. He spent his senior year soaking seeds in a plant hormone called ethephon, cutting down germination from 60 to 14 days. “Being able to germinate them much faster means that we can grow them faster, and then introduce them more.”

Justin Gomez-Stafford received his master’s degree in human genetics and genetic counseling at Stanford University. He now works as a hematology and oncology genetic counselor at Boston Children's Hospital. “I feel ready to take on my career journey thanks to Eastern’s rigorous curriculum and incredibly knowledgeable faculty, who molded me into a better scholar year after year.”

Evelyn Lemus Silva received the Dean’s REACH scholarship to attend Harvard Medical School. She aspires to become a physician or research scientist and work with underserved rural populations. “Eastern had a huge impact in preparing me for my research and in applying to Harvard Medical School. Eastern faculty really invest in their students — I had faculty I could talk to and who have joined me on my journey.”

Biology and Spanish double-major Jacob Paciotti ’21 teaches biology at Coventry High School. “Working in Eastern’s greenhouse introduced me to multiple different disciplines, including horticulture, agriculture and botany, all of which have helped to strengthen and broaden my knowledge of plant science and biology as a whole.”