Thamar Etienne
Major: Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics
Senior Thamar Etienne says she KNOWS she鈥檚 in love with biology but has had kind of a love/hate relationship with chemistry.
So when picking a major, Etienne found her perfect match in Towson University鈥檚 MB3 (molecular biology, biochemistry and bioinformatics) program, which allows her to combine her passions.
Don鈥檛 worry, she and chemistry are getting along well these days.
The Haiti native also knows that living happily ever after鈥攊n her case, that means attending medical school鈥攔equires preparation through hands-on scientific research, which is also mandatory in the MB3 major. Currently, under the mentorship of Associate Professor Barry Margulies, Etienne is helping to develop a new drug release device for herpes patients.
She says that working in the lab is 鈥渢he glue that ties together鈥� the concepts that she learns in the classroom. Drawing from different areas to do research, she explains, reveals how those areas are linked.
Etienne鈥檚 research contributions were recognized at the 2014 Women of Color STEM Conference in Detroit, where she received a student research award.
When she鈥檚 not in class, the lab or jetting off to a virology conference, Etienne is an active member of Beta Beta Beta, the biological sciences honor society, and community service chair of the MB3 Club, for which she organizes charity fundraisers.
鈥� Working in the lab is 鈥榯he glue that ties together鈥� the concepts that I learned in the classroom. 鈥�