I grew up in suburban Chicago and graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2009. Since freshman year I knew I wanted to study science, not only to discipline my mind but also to acquire a passion for the intricacies of life. In Madison my major project was working to slow the spread or symptoms of neurological diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease through chemical intervention. I would like to learn more about neurobiology, but evolutionary biology is another interest of mine, having also worked on the population genetics of paramecium in 2008. I'm looking forward to my studies at Columbia University and learning more about where my passion lies.

I'm also excited to live in New York City because of its amazing culture and plethora of opportunities. In my free time I like to try new foods, shop, karaoke and play tennis.