Student Profiles
Tara Mahendrarajah
Senior Microbiology major
Framingham, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: “Working in a lab has taught me what I’m capable of, and has solidified my path for a career in science.”
Kyle Reeves
Chemistry major '11
Shirley, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Working in a chemistry research lab and learning how to channel his passion for environmental conservation with his academic interests.
Callie Ericson
Psychology major '11
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Spending a semester abroad in Cape Town, South Africa was “one of the most amazing experiences” and redirected her academic focus.
Ashley Horner
Senior Food Science major
Marshfield, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Developing a new flavor for the Italian line of Gatorade X-plore as a summer intern at PepsiCo (through UMass internship program).
Matthew Liu
Senior Chemistry major
Randolph, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Being the supplemental instructor for Organic Chemistry "helped me see how much I want to teach."
Erika Otero
Senior Biology major and Pre-med
Elmwook Park, New Jersey
Coolest UMass Experience: Spending a semester abroad in Thailand and discovering that "whenever I had free time, I did things that only a bio major would do."
Alexandra Clymer '10
Building and Construction Technology
Somerset, New Jersey
Coolest UMass Experience: Visiting post-Katrina New Orleans and seeing first-hand the application of low-income, energy-efficient building. Can't wait to see new building projects from start to finish.
Nemat Sharaf '10
Biochemistry
Boston, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Watching a blind woman regain her sight while volunteering in the ER. Working under Nobel Laureate Dr. Craig Mello at UMass Medical School.
PJ Stanley Hamel '10
Pre-vet
Winchester, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Helping Peruvian farmers learn skills to support their Alpaca herds. After vet school, hopes to care for large and wild animals internationally.
Heather DeRoy
Senior Geology & Psychology double degree
Gardner, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Discovering she was a science person after all! Can't wait to inspire middle-schoolers using "fun" scientific activities.
Dima Tokar '10
Microbiology and Finance double degree
Brookline, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Working with scientists aboard the research ship Atlantis to study hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
Dave Vaillencourt '10
Earth Systems major
Whitman, Massachusetts
Coolest UMass Experience: Spending last summer in arctic Norway doing climate research: "At midnight you'd have your sunglasses on."
