Student Life

The Genetics Program at Michigan State University exists for its graduate students.
The program was created to allow students to cross departmental boundaries
and to study genetics in many different systems.

We, the students, are the heart of the Genetics Program.

WE ARE DIVERSE:

Genetic students Eric Schauberger and Xiaoli Gao at the poster session during Genetics Retreat 2005. Eric is in the MSTP program, which allows him to work on a D.O. and a Genetics Ph.D concurrently. Xiaoli's research area is in plant genetics.

Our research interests range from the genetics of mosquito reproduction to protein transport in plants to hereditary hearing loss in humans.

Our backgrounds are in many areas of the biological sciences as well as biostatistics, mathematics and even philosophy.

We have come to MSU from across the United States as well as from several foreign countries.

Some of us are single, some have families, some have spent time in the work force while others entered graduate school directly after college graduation.
This diversity means we have a broad range of scientific and personal experience to draw upon.

Xiaoli Gao, Sankalpi Warnasooriya,
and Pampa Molina Campos at the
2005 Holiday party

INDIVIDUAL:

We are consulted regarding policy changes in the program.

We are able to tailor our requirements and coursework to best complement our research interests, with faculty guidance.

The program director is familiar with each student and works to streamline the administrative details associated with graduate education.

Our work environment is respectful, cordial and cooperative.
We play a major part in hosting seminar speakers and prospective students.
We have voting student representatives on many university committees.

In some cases, we comprise the committees.

Alyssa Bumbaugh shows off a poster at a genetics symposium

	(Left): Dr. He with Paula Hauck and Julie Zwiesler-Vollick
(Right): Sainan Wei, Leeyoung Park, Chris Vlangos, Becky Lucas, Becky Bedilu at a Genetics Conference in Baltimore, MD