Biochemistry Undergraduate Class of 2017
Each spring the Biochemistry and Biophysics Department at the University of Rochester Medical School,
hosts a graduation ceremony for about 30 students, who receive their Bachelors of Science Degree in Biochemistry.
And every year we are reminded that the young men and women who graduate from our program are truly amazing. Our
most recent graduating class was no exception; not only did they excel in their studies of the physical sciences,
these graduates routinely boasted an extraordinary list of accomplishments in diverse areas from sports to the arts,
to community service. These undergraduates arrived at the university with varied backgrounds, one from Nepal,
another from Russia, while three others were the first in their families to earn a college degree.
As usual, there was no shortage of academic honors among this year’s graduating class. Of the 27 students in the 2017
Biochemistry class, 13 students graduated either summa, magna, or cum-laude, and 7 graduates were selected to Phi
Beta Kappa, an academic honor society. One graduate is a Fulbright Scholar, going to the University of Hong Kong to
study cancer and aging. Eight of the graduates earned double degrees with their Biochemistry degree, also receiving
degrees in English (Honors), Psychology, Chemistry, Business, and American Sign Language.
An amazing 21 of the 30 graduates participated in cutting-edge research in various laboratories during their studies
at the University of Rochester, with 6 earning Honors in Research by writing and defending a thesis based upon their
own research results. Their research projects focused on a wide range of topics ranging from investigations of the
basic mechanisms of gene expression, to mechanisms of aging to cancer research. Titles of senior Honors thesis
ranged from “Engineering of Myoglobin Catalysts for Novel Reactivity”, and “Nasonia Venom Research” to “Uncovering
Pathways to Longevity through a Novel SIRT6-AMPK Signaling Loop” and “Effects of Genetic and Infectious Factors on
Lysosomal Function: Implications in Demyelinating Disease”.
Among the class, 9 have been already accepted into medical school, MD/Ph.D., Ph.D. or M.A. programs at institutions
such as MIT, Johns Hopkins, and Albert Einstein University. Another 11 plan to apply to such programs after taking a
‘year-out’, with one opting to participate in basic research into muscular dystrophy, another going to work for
AmeriCorps in Chicago to help school kids at risk for dropping out, and a third joining Teach for America to assist
educational efforts in New York City. Therefore, if their plans pan out, over 2/3 of the class will be earning
advanced degrees in medicine or biomedical research.
Along the way, these students garnered an impressive number of accolades, scholarships, and academic prizes. One
graduate won both the Catherine Block Award, given annually to 5 women in the junior class in recognition of their
outstanding ability and achievement in the field of science and the Irene Bush Steinbock Award, given annually to 4
seniors in the College who have made noteworthy contributions to human relations. Another two won the Janet Howell
Clark Prize, awarded annually to 5 graduating women who have shown great promise in one Physics, Chemistry, Biology,
or Astronomy. Eleven students won a total of 14 different scholarships during their studies, including numerous
awards to fund summer research fellowships which allowed them spend summers working in our research labs.
Perhaps even more impressive than these academic achievements, were the incredibly diverse extracurricular activities
that these science graduates enjoyed in their ‘free’ time. Importantly these included included several examples of
leadership, as among our graduating class was a captain of the varsity boys soccer team, a captain of the girls
track team, and the President of the Women’s Club Volleyball team. Others were members of the varsity tennis, rugby,
and crew teams. The extra-curricular activities did not only include athletics; one graduate founded a Student’s
Stand-Up Comedy Club, another was organizer and President of an American Cancer Society Relay for Life, raising over
$250,000, others included the manager of the Midnight Ramblers, a men’s vocalist group, a President of the UR Circle
K International, a community service organization, a President of Society of Undergraduate Biology students, a
member of Pride Network, and a member of Rochester Bangra, a competitive North Indian Dance team.
So what do all the awards, accolades and achievements amount to? First and foremost, its clear that these young
adults have not only learned the intricacies of a challenging discipline in the biomedical sciences, but also to
take advantage of opportunities for enrichment in life, taking the time to get involved, to participate in
life-enriching extracurricular activities, and, especially, to find fulfillment in service to others. Such traits
are certainly the bedrock of the leaders of tomorrow and it is encouraging to imagine how these young people will
contribute to our world in the future. To quote a line from a recent graduation speech, it is not a question of
whether these graduates are ready for the world, but rather whether the world is ready for them.
Class of 2017 Accomplishments
- Founded Stand-Up comedy club
- President Women's Club Volleyball Team
- 4 year member of varsity soccer
- 4 year member of varsity soccer, regional finals for hammer and discus
- President Relay for life - 3 years - raised over $250,000
- Varsity Tennis Team
- Men's Rugby Team- won 2 NY state championship titles
- Manager Midnight Ramblers
- Executive Board Refugee Student Alliance
- Varsity Member of Crew Team
- President of Society of Undergraduate Biology students
- Rochester Bangra (Competitive North Indian Dance team)
- Audio music and engineering
- President of Circle K International (community service organization)
- Pride Network - Sonam Sherpa
- First generation college graduate from Nepal
Scholarships
- Barbara J Burger Endowed Scholarship
- Bausch and Lomb Merit Award Scholarship
- DeKiewet Summer Research Fellowships
- Discover Grant for undergrad research
- Gates Millennium Scholar
- Handler Scholar
- John McCreary Memorial Prize
- Kearns Center Scholar
- Nathaniel And Helen Wisch Scholar
- Office of Undergraduate research presentation Award
- Renaissance & Global Scholar
- Ronald McNair Scholar
- Wilder Leadership Scholarship
- William Jackson Hawley Scholarship