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Biology

Druckenmiller Hall Directory

Alumni and Careers

Mer Feero

Mer Feero ’23.5

Major: Biology

Location: London, England

Most memorable biology class: Microbiology

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

For my last semester at Bowdoin, I studied global health in Geneva, Switzerland. I have since translated that work into an intensive master's program at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the Control of Infectious Diseases. While studying here, I will focus my learning and research on emerging infectious diseases, pandemic preparedness, universal health coverage, and global health security.

Why biology? 

Biology is life in the truest sense; to have a love of biology is to have a love for life. When you have a wonder for living things, a kind of awe for them, you begin to want to spend your life trying to protect and conserve that miracle— in the natural world, in the person next to you, and in those who are thousands of miles away. In short, biology quite literally makes us all human beings, but it can also make us all the best parts of being human. This is probably the greatest lesson I've learned from studying biology, and it's the reason why I chose to continue it after Bowdoin and with my future graduate work and career.

Anthea (Thea) Bell

Anthea (Thea) Bell ’22

Major: Biology

Minor: Visual Arts

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Most memorable biology class: Molecular Neurobiology with Hadley Horch

"As I learned about all the signaling pathways that govern neuronal processes— such as sensory perception, learning and memory, and axonal guidance —I became amazed by our bodies’ ability to maintain and regulate so much complexity so we can function. However, I was even more impressed by the ability of scientists to map out all these intricate pathways and systems, especially with the limited molecular techniques in the past."

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

During my time at Bowdoin, I volunteered with Alzheimer's and dementia patients and researched how crickets heal after central nervous system injuries with Professor Horch. After graduating in 2022, I pursued my interest in the brain and nervous system as a clinical research coordinator at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center, where I worked with patients with frontotemporal dementia. This experience deepened my understanding of how brain degeneration affects memory, language, and behavior. I also gained valuable insights into the workings of large healthcare teams, observing how various clinicians—including physicians, nurses, speech-language pathologists, neuropsychologists, and genetic counselors—collaborate to understand rare dementia diagnoses. After two years at UCSF, I applied to medical school and am now a first-year student at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Why biology? 

After taking a psychology class in high school, I became fascinated by the brain and its biological underpinnings. When it came time to choose a major at Bowdoin, I found myself torn between neuroscience and biology. Ultimately, I opted for biology because it offered the flexibility to explore neuroscience while also delving into other subjects that intrigued me. For instance, I was eager to take Plant Ecophysiology, driven by my love for plants (I’m definitely a proud plant mom!). I wanted to understand their inner workings. I also became interested in Developmental Biology, especially the developing nervous system, after one of my neurobiology courses. The labs in the biology program have been a highlight for me, too! In my Intro to Neurobiology lab, my classmates and I created a cricket colosseum to investigate whether the presence of female crickets would heighten male aggression and fighting. In my Developmental Biology lab, I enjoyed drawing the different stages of sea urchin and chick embryo development, which beautifully combined my interests in art and biology. Overall, I appreciate how the biology major has allowed me to explore a wide range of topics—from cellular mechanisms to human systems, and even plant biology—enabling me to see the interconnectedness of life.

Katie Galletta

Katie Galletta ’21

Major: Biology

Location: Urbana, Illinois

Most memorable biology class: Research in Ecology, Evolution, & Marine Biology with Patty Jones

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

After graduating from Bowdoin, I knew I wanted to go to graduate school but had no idea what I wanted to study—there were so many options! To figure it out, I spent a few years moving around the continent to test different research foci and gain a range of field skills. I worked in environmental education for a while as a naturalist with the Appalachian Mountain Club in New Hampshire and the Casper Mountain Science program in Wyoming. I also got a research fellowship with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute studying the foraging decision-making of frog-eating bats in Panamá. I kept finding myself returning to working with birds, however, after internships with HawkWatch International in Utah and the National Audubon Society in South Carolina. I decided to pursue ornithology in graduate school, and in 2024 started my PhD at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign studying the migration ecology of Kirtland’s Warblers.

Why biology? 

I love biology (and ecology in particular) because of the way all living things are so inherently and inextricably interconnected. I always come back to Charles Darwin’s ‘tangled bank' metaphor when thinking about the ways various life forms have interacted and co-evolved through space and time to create the incredible diversity of life we have today. Of course, this diversity is at risk due to anthropogenic impacts like climate change and habitat destruction, so I also appreciate how biological research allows us to leverage the scientific method to inform better, more effective conservation and management methods. 

Alumni profile of Rachel Noone, Class of 2019

Rachel Noone '19

Major: Biology

Minor: Hispanic Studies

Location: Davis, California

Most memorable biology class: Plant Ecophysiology with Barry Logan

"I love the logic of biology and how there's so much room for creativity and discovery—nothing's ever set in stone."

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

After Bowdoin, I worked for a company in Boston called Indigo. I started as an intern, and then became a contracted employee. I worked to help isolate these endophytic microbes—microbes inside the plant from all sorts of different field crops—and we formulated seed coatings to try to help introduce symbiotic organisms into the growing fields for all of these different kinds of crops, like corn, wheat, rice, and soy. I did that for about a year, until I transitioned to the position that I had been working at for the past two years: I became an agricultural scientist for a hydroponic vertical farm called Bowery, based out of New Jersey. I did lots of new product development work for hydroponic vertical farming, as well as a lot of media substrate work. Now, I am a PhD student at University of California, Davis, studying horticulture and agronomy in the Department of Plant Sciences.

Why biology?

Biology is super cool—I love the sciences. I was always passionate about food and agriculture, as they're our most direct connection with the land, and I really wanted to be able to impact environmental issues by pursuing this field. I love the logic of it and how there's so much room for creativity and discovery—nothing's ever set in stone. We're always learning new things, so you're never stuck in one place. There's always more to discover and more to do, and it just can take you anywhere you want to go. It opens up a lot of different opportunities in almost any field you'd want to go into, and it's really nice to have a seat at the table and be in an industry you're passionate about, in a way that you can really impact what's going on.

Alumni profile of Taylor Choate, Class of 2019

Taylor Choate ’19

Major: Biology

Minor: Hispanic Studies

Location: Portland, Maine

Most memorable biology class: Comparative Physiology with Patsy Dickinson

"By learning about the inner workings of the body and how every molecule impacts the way we function, both physically and mentally, I can have a better understanding about how characteristics of different illnesses and diseases may be manifested in patients."

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

In my time since graduating from Bowdoin in 2019, I worked for about two years as a medical scribe in family practice while simultaneously applying to medical school. This past year, I had the opportunity to complete one year of the Masters in Biomedical Science at Tufts University School of Medicine before being accepted into Tuft's medical school for this upcoming academic year through their Maine Track program. I am extremely excited to be returning to Maine to continue my education, as well as getting further along on my path toward becoming a doctor!

Why biology? 

I believe biology is such an important, interesting, and useful field of study. As an aspiring physician, I was immediately drawn to biology due to my desire to work in the medical field. By learning about the inner workings of the body and how every molecule impacts the way we function, both physically and mentally, I can have a better understanding about how characteristics of different illnesses and diseases may be manifested in patients. I am confident this will aid me in becoming the best doctor that I can be. I also strongly feel that biology, as well as other sciences, are not strictly areas or study where only physicians can benefit. One of my close college friends majored in neuroscience, yet she now works in marketing and project management for an athletic wear brand. Studying neuroscience can help us all to look at things from different perspectives so that we as humans can be more understanding of one another and better relate to each other. This is a value that is important in all areas of life. A subject like biology can also be helpful for anyone who has the desire to learn how we function on a molecular level. This can be enlightening when it comes to what types of lifestyle choices and decisions we can make in order to be the healthiest individuals that we can be.

Alumni profile of Meera Prasad, Class of 2019

Meera Prasad ’19

Major: Biology

Major: Religious Studies

Location: Pasadena, California

Most memorable biology class: Computational Biology with Sarah Kingston

"I feel like the questions [that biology asks] are very interesting, and also they're helpful for their impact on human health. That's why I'm pursuing it."

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

After I graduated in 2019, I worked at a lab studying stem cells and regenerative- and cancer biology in the Boston Children's Hospital at Harvard. There, I was a bioinformatics research assistant for two years—physically there for a year and then working from home for the second year due to the pandemic. The work that I did and the research I was able to contribute to was an incredible opportunity. Then, I moved to Pasadena, California, and I joined a biology PhD program at Cal Tech. I've been here for about a year and I'm just going into my second year.

Why biology?

For me, biology is very intertwined with how you study it. Biology has a really unique human health focus and potential impact. In my cancer research, I'm developing a model to help predict particular immune cell types, and various others, to think about what features immune cells need to improve recognition. I feel like these questions are very interesting, and also they're helpful for their impact on human health. That's why I'm pursuing it.

Alumni profile of Linnea Patterson, Class of 2018

Linnea Patterson ’18

Major: Biology

Major: Environmental Studies

Location: Brunswick, Maine

Most memorable biology class: Behavioral Ecology and Population Biology with Nat Wheelwright

"Biology has always been a source of interest and excitement – it’s so beautiful, creative, and iterative."

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

I currently work for Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) (just down the street from Bowdoin!) as a Program Developer specializing in climate justice and environmental resilience on our Lending team. I’m focused on expanding and strengthening CEI’s equitable and green lending practices to ensure that, as our economy decarbonizes, under-resourced communities and businesses benefit from this transition. Prior to this role, I was the Lending team’s Environmental Specialist, where I focused on assisting loan officers make loans to environmentally sustainable small businesses and wrote both policy testimony and grant proposals for our environmental priorities.

Why biology?

I was raised by a family of biologists who instilled a passion for the natural sciences throughout my childhood. I grew up in Virginia with an appreciation of the working waterfront and land and searched for that same connection when I moved to Maine. Biology has always been a source of interest and excitement – it’s so beautiful, creative, and iterative. I know that I’ll always seek a connection to science in whatever I pursue, and I’ll keep advocating for how science (and inclusive, digestible communication about scientific research) can inform local decision-making and community development.

Alumni profile of Zoe Wood, Class of 2018

Zoe Wood '18

Major: Biology

Minor: Latin American Studies

Location: Davis, California

Most memorable biology class: Plant Ecophysiology with Barry Logan

"Observing the natural world in a biological or scientific sense goes hand in hand with observing it in an artistic sense, and, for me, those processes feed each other in a very fluid way."

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

After graduating, I spent a couple of seasons working at Chewonki as an outdoor educator. I also lived for six months in Peru, working as a resident naturalist in the Peruvian Amazon, and I led a trip along the Appalachian Trail with Chewonki again. I then went to TA a course in Ecuador with Wildlands Studies' study abroad program for college students. The last two years, I lived in Santa Barbara, California, and worked for University of California as a field technician, lab technician, and collections assistant with the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration. I worked in the natural history collections there, studying bees, mainly. I also led a photography and ecology workshop for undergraduate students and organized an art show at the university at the end of that. This past summer, I spent five months hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada, and, now, I have just started as a PhD student at University of California, Davis. I'm studying plant-insect interactions and how they're affected by climate change. 

Why biology?

Biology, in general, allows you to professionally ask questions and to better things. Observing the natural world in a biological or scientific sense goes hand in hand with observing it in an artistic sense, and, for me, those processes feed each other in a very fluid way.

Alumni profile of Poy Polcharee, Class of 2018

Poy Pholcharee ’18

Major: Biology

Major: Mathematics

Location Oxford, England

Most memorable biology class: Biochemistry and cell biology with Bruce Kohorn

"Biology is a fun subject because it's so interdisciplinary, and it also has medical applications—you feel like when you're doing research, even though the question can be super basic science, eventually, some of that knowledge can be applied to help people."

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

After Bowdoin, I went straight to doing a PhD right away. It's a five-year program, and it's a joint PhD program between the Scripps Research Institute in California and the University of Oxford in the UK. I was at Scripps for three years, and now I'm here in Oxford for about two more years!

Why biology?

I loved biology so much in high school. If science is like a pyramid, it's the subject that is on top. It's built on chemistry, physics, and math. For example, right now I'm doing biochemistry and I feel like I'm using some knowledge in chemistry and physics on a regular basis. It's a fun subject because it's so interdisciplinary, and it also has medical applications—you feel like when you're doing research, even though the question can be super basic science, eventually, some of that knowledge can be applied to help people.

Alumni profile of Gregory Thompson, Class of 2016

Gregory Thompson '16

Major: Biology

Location: New York, New York

Most memorable biology class: All of my advisement from Bruce Kohorn!

"Since I was a kid, I've always been interested in science and how the body works. I've always been amazed with the feats that the human body is able to accomplish. I knew I wanted to do something science-related, and biology seemed like the perfect major for me."

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

When I left Bowdoin, I wasn't really entirely sure what I wanted to do with my major. I knew I wanted to work in healthcare, but I wasn't sure in what capacity. So, right out of school, I worked at a physical therapy (PT) clinic as a physical therapy assistant, just to get experience in the field, and then I decided that I wanted to apply for PT school. I worked for about two years at a PT clinic, and then, after being in the field for a while, I decided that I didn't want to go that route. I was considering the amount of schooling and the cost of schooling. I was kind of at a crossroads, and I wanted to get some more organizational and project management skills, so I worked at a charter high school as a project coordinator. It was really beneficial in helping me gain some of those professional skills that I didn't get working at the PT clinic, and I did it about for about two years and was really grateful for that experience. I still knew I wanted to be in healthcare, so I decided to get my foot into the door and went to school for radiology technologists. I also worked full time overnights at an urgent care center called Solace Health, which was also a really cool experience where I got the chance to work very closely with physician assistants, nurses, and radiology techs. I finished up radiology tech school in May, and, since then, I've been working as a radiology tech at a surgical center in New York. It's been good to finally work in the healthcare field, and, right now, I am setting my eyes on applying for physician assistant school next fall. 

Why biology?

Since I was a kid, I've always been interested in science and how the body works. I've always been amazed with the feats that the human body is able to accomplish. I knew I wanted to do something science-related, and biology seemed like the perfect major for me—it doesn't get more specific than biology. I knew I also wanted to work in healthcare, and I was already thinking about what classes I needed to have in order to apply for schools to get into the healthcare professions. It definitely wasn't easy, and there are times when I wanted to reconsider my decision to major in biology, but I took people's doubts as a challenge. Regardless of what struggles I went through while pursuing this major, I knew I was going to stick with this to prove it to myself and to them that I could accept this challenge and get through.

Alumni profile of Kaitlin Gately, Class of 2016

Kaitlin Gately '16

Major: Biology

Minor: Chinese

Location: Canton, Massachusetts

Most memorable biology class: Immunology with Anne McBride

"As someone who knew I wanted to work in the medical field but did not have a clear direction post-graduation, the quantitative and qualitative tools of my biology major allowed me the freedom to explore a variety of fields and ultimately prepared me to be successful in the career path I chose."

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

After Bowdoin, I went on to receive my master of public health degree, concentrating in epidemiology, from Brown University. While at Brown, I worked at the Rhode Island Department of Health in the Center for Acute Infectious Disease, focusing mainly on STD and latent tuberculosis surveillance. I am now the lead clinical analyst for the clinical innovation team at Point32Health, the parent company of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan. I provide all of the analytic support to the clinical innovation team. I use claims data to identify areas of need for members and help evaluate the clinical utility and economic impact of programs through matched case controls studies.
Why biology?
Biology is such a great major because even though it is very subject-matter focused, the problem-solving skills and research methodology tools you learn transcend a wide variety of fields. As someone who knew I wanted to work in the medical field but did not have a clear direction post-graduation, the quantitative and qualitative tools of my biology major allowed me the freedom to explore a variety of fields and ultimately prepared me to be successful in the career path I chose. 
Alumni profile of Megan Chong, Class of 2015

Megan Chong ’15

Major(s): Biology

Minor: Chemistry

Location: San Francisco, California

Most memorable biology class: Cell Biology

"For me, taking biology classes at Bowdoin was a big part of what made me fall in love with biology research. I really loved the act of taking distant pieces of data and connecting them into like a wider pattern."

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

For about two and a half years, I worked as a research technician at a lab in Boston. Following that, I took six months off and did a bit of traveling. Now, I am at UC San Francisco getting my PhD in cell biology.

Why biology?

I got into biology classes at Bowdoin because I thought that I wanted to do medicine, and so I was following the traditional pre-med route at first. For me, taking biology classes at Bowdoin was a big part of what made me fall in love with biology research. I really loved the act of taking distant pieces of data and connecting them into like a wider pattern. That was something that you get early on in Bowdoin biology classes that changed the way I think about doing science.

Alumni profile of Amy Spens, Class of 2015

Amy Spens '15

Major: Biology

Major: Anthropology

Location: Seattle, Washington

Most memorable biology class: Forest Ecology and Conservation with Vladimir Douhovnikoff

"Biology is everything, everywhere! It’s the giant spaghetti ball of questions that never gets any smaller."

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

Right after graduation I worked for two years as a research technician in the Henikoff Lab at Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington. I eventually decided that I wanted to be the person asking the questions, not just answering them on others’ behalf, so I joined the Molecular and Cellular Biology graduate program at the University of Washington. I defended my PhD in early August of this year and am now working as a postdoc in my thesis lab while I tie up loose ends, apply to industry jobs in the Seattle and Vancouver, British Colombia, areas, and clamber around our local mountains.

Why biology?

Biology is everything, everywhere! It’s the giant spaghetti ball of questions that never gets any smaller. I grew up running around in the forest to the east of Seattle. My childhood involved a lot of mud pies, soaking up local plant and animal names, and volunteering to build trails and restore habitats on the weekends. Retrospectively, it feels fairly inevitable that I ended up loving ecology and conservation biology so much. Of course, it didn’t hurt that my undergrad advisor, Vladimir Douhovnikoff, was very encouraging. No one in my immediate family is a biologist and having a supportive mentor who made science accessible was everything. Somehow I kind of skipped around from ecology to plant genetics to fruit fly epigenetics, and currently I’m studying innate immunology in (gasp) humans. It is an incredible privilege to make a career out of asking and answering questions, and I’m very grateful for all of the support I’ve had to pursue this career

Alumni profile of LaShaye Cobley

La'Shaye Cobley ’12

Major: Biology

Major: Africana Studies

Minor: English

Location: California Air Resources Board

La’Shaye has a Ph.D. from the University of Utah in Biology, and is currently an Air Pollution Specialist at the California Air Resources Board. She is originally from Brooklyn, NY.

After graduating from Bowdoin, La’Shaye worked as a lab technician for a year and continued her graduate studies in that same laboratory thereafter. While in graduate school, she used the leaf chemistries of metropolitan plants to tell stories about vehicle emissions. Ultimately, La’Shaye’s research led her to pursue a career in science policy. She notes that she wanted to do something about the air pollution that she was measuring.

La’Shaye is currently working at the California Air Resources Board, where she helps the state to clean the air through strong regulations grounded in science. La’Shaye is very passionate about protecting public health and the environment. Her main career goal is to help create tangible mitigation strategies that address global climate change and urbanization.

Alumni profile of Gina Lonati, Class of 2012

Gina Lonati '12

Major: Biology

Minor: Chemistry

Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Most memorable biology class: Marine Biology with Amy Johnson

"I did volleyball and track at Bowdoin, and I find it so interesting how the teamwork in sports contributes a lot to my teamwork in biology now."

What have you been up to since graduating from Bowdoin?

The summer after Bowdoin, I interned for the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program. Then, starting that fall, I started my master's at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. There, I studied whale physiology, specifically looking at the composition of their fats to see if it had any role in decompression sickness. After that, I volunteered very briefly on an NOAA survey of marine mammals on the Pacific for a month, where we went around and photographed and documented different marine mammals from a vessel. Then, I worked for four and a half years for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in St. Petersburg, Florida, primarily with manatees. We did rescues and necropsies, which is the dissection of animals to determine cause of death. I also did some research on using manatee ear bones to determine the age of the animal. We'd also work with some small whales and dolphins that would strand—we were a stranding response network, as well. While I was there, I was like, 'Man, I kind of miss school,' because that was my first real long job outside of school. I moved to St. John, New Brunswick, in 2019 and started my PhD in January, 2020. I'm studying North Atlantic right whales. I heard about at a conference that they are critically endangered—only 350 animals left—and I was like, 'I want to spend my PhD studying those animals and helping.' Now, I do some oceanographic work studying their prey from boats, as well as fly a drone off of the boat, to try to look at the health of individual whales more closely to monitor the population.

Why biology?

I love working in marine biology specifically, because I feel that the issue of climate change and sustainability are so important, they affect everyone, and it's rewarding to know that what I do for a living is contributing to developing solutions, helping animals, and also helping people to help animals. I also just love that every day is a little different. Three months out of the year I'm on a boat looking for whales, and I just think it's really cool to have a dynamic job where you're not sitting at a computer every day. I like the potential for collaboration and the critical thinking that's involved, as well as the creativity and the teamwork. I did volleyball and track at Bowdoin, and I find it so interesting how the teamwork in sports contributes a lot to my teamwork in biology now.

Sasha Cruz

Sasha Cruz

Class of: 2012

Location: San Antonio, TX

Major(s): Biology, Hispanic Studies

Sasha Cruz graduated from Bowdoin in 2012 with a double major in biology and Spanish, and is originally from San Antonio, Texas. Sasha is currently enrolled in the pharmacy program at Texas A&M University and works as a licensed pharmacist alongside physicians in a collaborative practice managing patients with chronic diseases.

More About Sasha

Between Bowdoin and Texas A&M, Sasha worked in a pharmacy to gain experience and to decide whether or not pharmacy was the career for me, and also taught a Kaplan PCAT course. The year she spent gaining pharmacy experience helped solidify her decision to pursue a career in pharmacy. Sasha grew up in an area of Texas where a shortage of health care existed, and she decided to attend Texas A&M because of the school’s mission and strong commitment to helping increase access to health care in the South Texas region. The pharmacy program at Texas A&M has opened many doors for Sasha, including the amazing opportunity to intern at the Mayo Clinic after her second year of pharmacy school.

Sasha says she would not be where she is today if not for Seth Ramus and Bowdoin Health Professions Advising. She is grateful for the office for its information, encouragement, and guidance before, during, and after the pharmacy school application process.

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