Highlight on Students

Students pursuing a Master of Science in Biotechnology have a variety of professional backgrounds, and often have different career goals. Students include lab scientists, medical scientists, computer scientists, business professionals, lawyers, administrators, and science teachers. Students come from the biotechnology industries, medical research laboratories, law firms, and government agencies.

Jennifer McRae

What will your Masters Degree be and what year do you intend to graduate?
I will graduate this May with a Masters Degree in Biotechnology with a concentration in Biodefense.
 

What is your favorite part of the Biotechnology Program?
I like that the biotechnology program brings together students and professors who work in different niches of biotechnology and biodefense, such as academic research, government research, defense contracting, and health care. I find this makes the course discussions and material more comprehensive. While the program is rigorous, I think the atmosphere is collaborative instead of competitive.
 

Why did you choose to get your Masters Degree from Johns Hopkins?
I wanted to find a program that would really go beyond my undergraduate degree, but would also be flexible with my professional and personal commitments. Being able to take some classes online has been key to balancing my studies with travel and work. I also found the course offerings to be broad enough that I wasn't repeating material I had already learned. For example, I really enjoyed taking Parasitology and was able to
take a course on the theory of terrorism through the government program as
an elective.
 

What is your most memorable experience from the program so far?
Last spring in the Biodefense Laboratory Methods class we simulated the collection and preliminary testing of envelopes containing suspicious "white powder" left out on our lab benches. Although we had learned the careful protocol for handling such material, I didn't fully comprehend the extremely precise ritual of safely collecting and sampling the envelopes until my lab partner and I had to step through the process. At first we felt a little silly, but in the end it was really fun (and the powder ended up being
cornstarch).
 

What do you plan to do once you have finished the program?
This summer I will start medical school at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City, Kansas. At a minimum my JHU degree will give me a head start on molecular and clinical diagnostics and infectious diseases, but I also hope to apply what I've learned about biodefense policy and threat response to addressing public health issues in my community.
 

Julie Niemela

"Working as a research technologist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), I became hooked on bioinformatics after analyzing my first set of microarray data, and, in doing so, discovering a disease gene for an inherited disorder of the immune system. I had never analyzed microarray data before, so I extemporized, using the internet to help me select 25 candidate genes, based on a data set containing 54,000 probes. Six months later, I had sequenced my way through 23 of the genes and was about to give
up, when I finally found the disease causing mutation in a gene called NRAS.

Realizing the power of bioinformatics and suspecting that the techniques that I had learned on the internet were just the tip of the iceberg, I decided to pursue a Masters Degree in Bioinformatics in the JHU part-time program. I knew immediately that I had made an excellent choice. The wide variety of courses offered allowed me to streamline my course of study to best suit my needs and interests. I have enjoyed all of my classes, including the core classes, and particularly 'Microarrays and Analysis' and Molecular Targets in Cancer'. Many of my professors have been experts in their field, and they have been enthusiastic and helpful. The student body is comprised of people of all ages and backgrounds, and it has been interesting and educational getting to know them, not to mention a great opportunity for networking.

I plan to stay at the NIH after I graduate in 2010, but will focus more on bioinformatics, applying the advanced skills that I have gained at JHU. My course of study at Hopkins will have been four years very well spent."

Susan Zecchini

“New to the pharmaceutical industry, I decided to apply to the Bioscience Regulatory Affairs program to gain a better understanding of the drug development process. Now in my last semester, I have a much greater understanding of the intricacies and nuances of drug development as well as the regulatory requirements that ensure the safe and efficacious development these products. The comprehensive studies offered through this program provide the opportunity to explore the substantive areas of biologics, pharmaceuticals and medical devices while engaging students analytically.

At first, I was hesitant to pursue my Masters degree online which is why I choose to go with a school with such a strong reputation. Although the studies are challenging, this program has been very manageable with my busy work schedule. The professors are well versed in their areas of expertise and very supportive. I recently finished my term paper-Assessing FDA's Categorization of In Vitro Diagnostic Multivariate Index Assays as Medical Devices via Guidance Documents Rather Than the Public Rule-making Process. My professor, Thomas D. Colonna, commented that it was "an excellent paper". Dr. Colonna's recognition is a sample of the true dedication to encouraging students to their best and the commitment to excellence of this program. I plan to apply to the PhD program at Johns Hopkins after graduation.”