Dr. Alexei Soares, National Synchrotron Light Source II said, “Drug discovery is about making sick people feel better. People are sick because something is broken.” At twenty weeks in utero my son was sick, his diaphragm was broken. He was diagnosed with left-sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). It is a serious, often fatal birth defect that occurs when the diaphragm fails to close during fetal development. The opening allows the contents of the abdomen to enter the chest, impeding the development of the lungs. At birth, pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension become life-threatening. CDH is one of the most common congenital defects, the cause is unknown. It has been hypothesized that abnormal retinoid signaling is the cause of CDH. Six weeks after the sudden death of my husband, our son was born one month premature at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Special Delivery Unit. In the NIICU he survived on a ventilator, in a medically induced coma for 25 days, survived hernia repair surgery at 18 days old, and was able to come home after 31 days. Most infants are not as lucky as my son. They are hospitalized for months, only to come home with ventilators, and feeding tubes, amongst other complications due to coexisting genetic conditions. My son left the hospital with minor medical concerns. I owe it to my son, to other infants, to their parents and families to do my part on the path to discovering a cause or a cure for CDH. The Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program at Brookhaven National Laboratory is attractive because it is close to home, offers access to cutting-edge technology like the National Synchrotron Light Source II, and has excellent mentors to teach. The experience with my mentors during my Community College Internship (CCI) provided opportunities to explore real-life snapshots of a career that utilizes x-ray diffraction and cryogenic electron microscopy to explore the molecular dynamics of insulin along with other biomolecules. These tools and research methods can be applied to CDH-inducing teratogens, helping to improve our understanding of their structural dynamics and their impact on retinoid signaling and the mechanism of RA binding proteins and RA acceptors in the embryonic pleuroperitoneal fold. Chemical engineers are in a particularly unique position to conduct research, understand diseases and their pathways, and engineer new medicines. It takes a multi-disciplinary approach. I look forward to collaborating with fellow SULI students, Mentors, and Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory. I am eager for the opportunity to showcase the talents that make me an asset to the research being conducted in the lab as we strive together to improve the quality of life for all humans.

The world, its inhabitants, its behaviors, and nature can often be described by mathematical expressions. That astonishing statement is what draws me to math and shapes my understanding of the world. I still remember saying after taking calculus II, "Oh, I will never use math in real-life applications." I started taking advanced courses in physics, chemistry, and thermodynamics. I was proved wrong when I began to learn about Newton's Laws and Equations of State. This is when math became co-linear with my life and my career. During my internship with NSLS-II, math became imperative. It was necessary to calculate how much solvent and solute were needed to crystallize biomolecules to prepare them for x-ray diffraction. Math is also used to collimate the light beam as well as the software that collects the data. Once the data is collected, math is necessary to determine the crystalline properties and determine the atomic arrangements of the crystals. I was especially impressed when I began to analyze the quality of the data by calculating and interpolating the molecular dynamics of biomolecules between observed states of x-ray diffraction. Using linear and polynomial regression, I was able to better understand how well the data fits the model. Yielding more accurate, precise visualizations leads to an improved understanding of molecular function. Using math allowed me to understand how the biomolecule behaves at each coordinate (in this case varying pH levels). Without math, this analysis could not happen. The analysis is imperative to understand the behaviors of biomolecules which leads to improvements in drug discovery. Math in this case is used to make the world a better place. Majoring in Chemical Engineering has led to a greater appreciation and understanding of math. Since energy can neither be created nor destroyed, there are many mathematical expressions that I use to explain how. Whether it is calculating changes in enthalpy, entropy, work, saturation, phases, you name it, calculus is necessary to explain the behaviors. My favorite activity is calculating enthalpy paths to move a mixture or a pure substance from one phase to another. I gain a greater understanding of phase changes by combining definite integrals, derivatives, and interpolations. Major advances made in coding and the use of algorithms increase the depth of understanding and aid in streamlining the analysis of data. Without coding, math would be more difficult. I rely on the algorithms I have created to complete repetitive calculations more accurately than I could do by hand or with a calculator. I also have used coding to visualize the analysis of data through graphs. The slope of a linear regression line can tell me the information I need if calculated and plotted properly. Although I have a 4.0 average in math, I once said, "Oh, I will never use math in real-life applications.". From Newton's Laws to x-ray diffraction to coding, math is an important part of a career in science. I am happy to use math to help shape my understanding of the world.

I have always been driven by my desire to lead myself and others in a collaborative effort to improve the quality of life for all humans. Obtaining a master’s degree in chemical engineering will be a valuable contribution to a career in drug research and discovery. A recent experience that drives my academic interests was the birth of my son. At twenty weeks in utero, my son was diagnosed with left-sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). It is a serious, often fatal birth defect that occurs when the diaphragm fails to close during fetal development. The opening allows the contents of the abdomen to enter the chest, impeding the development of the lungs. At birth, pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension become life-threatening. CDH is one of the most common congenital defects, the cause is unknown and there is no cure. Six weeks after the sudden death of my husband, our son was born, one month premature at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Special Delivery Unit. He survived on a ventilator in a medically induced coma for twenty-five days, survived hernia repair surgery at just eighteen days old, and was able to come home after thirty-one days. I slept in a recliner next to his hospital bed every single one of those nights. Most infants are not as lucky as my son. They are hospitalized for months surviving on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines, risking strokes. Most come home with ventilators, feeding tubes, amongst other genetic conditions. Some do not survive. My son left the hospital with minor medical concerns. I owe it to my son, to other infants, to their parents and families to do my part discovering a cause or a cure for CDH. They are why I have chosen to major in chemical engineering, and they are why I strive to earn a master’s degree. Consequently, I had to walk away from an 11 year career to care for our son. Surviving on widow's benefits is not the ideal life, my son deserves better. This is why I returned to education. Although I will have to finance my education through loans, scholarships, and grants, obtaining a bachelor's and master’s degree in chemical engineering will give me the knowledge and flexibility I need to succeed in this rapidly developing field. Very little research concerning CDH has been attempted or completed. It has been hypothesized that abnormal retinoid signaling is the cause of CDH. The research opportunities available to students and higher caliber of learning at Syracuse University will give me the skills needed to begin my research in CDH-inducing teratogens and retinoid signaling. An advanced degree will develop skills in writing grant proposals, and provide a deeper understanding of the mechanism of RA binding proteins and RA acceptors within the embryonic pleuroperitoneal fold. Chemical engineers are in a particularly unique position to improve the quality of life for humans. It takes a multi-disciplinary approach to conduct research, understand diseases and their pathways, and engineer new medicines. I will utilize my degree to research the suspected factors that are believed to cause CDH. I look forward to collaborating with fellow master’s program students, Professors, and researchers. I am ready for the opportunity to be an asset to the CDH community, as we strive together to improve the quality of life for all humans.

I have always been driven by my desire to lead myself and others in a collaborative effort to improve the quality of life for all humans. Obtaining a master’s degree in chemical engineering will be a valuable contribution to a career in drug research and discovery. A recent experience that drives my academic interests was the birth of my son. At twenty weeks in utero, my son was diagnosed with left-sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). It is a serious, often fatal birth defect that occurs when the diaphragm fails to close during fetal development. The opening allows the contents of the abdomen to enter the chest, impeding the development of the lungs. At birth, pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension become life-threatening. CDH is one of the most common congenital defects, the cause is unknown and there is no cure. Six weeks after the sudden death of my husband, our son was born, one month premature at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Special Delivery Unit. He survived on a ventilator in a medically induced coma for twenty-five days, survived hernia repair surgery at just eighteen days old, and was able to come home after thirty-one days. I slept in a recliner next to his hospital bed every single one of those nights. Most infants are not as lucky as my son. They are hospitalized for months surviving on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines, risking strokes. Most come home with ventilators, feeding tubes, amongst other genetic conditions. Some do not survive. My son left the hospital with minor medical concerns. I owe it to my son, to other infants, to their parents and families to do my part discovering a cause or a cure for CDH. They are why I have chosen to major in chemical engineering, and they are why I strive to earn a master’s degree. Consequently, I had to walk away from an 11 year career to care for our son. Surviving on widow's benefits is not the ideal life, my son deserves better. This is why I returned to education. Although I will have to finance my education through loans, scholarships, and grants, obtaining a bachelor's and master’s degree in chemical engineering will give me the knowledge and flexibility I need to succeed in this rapidly developing field. Very little research concerning CDH has been attempted or completed. It has been hypothesized that abnormal retinoid signaling is the cause of CDH. The research opportunities available to students and higher caliber of learning at Syracuse University will give me the skills needed to begin my research in CDH-inducing teratogens and retinoid signaling. An advanced degree will develop skills in writing grant proposals, and provide a deeper understanding of the mechanism of RA binding proteins and RA acceptors within the embryonic pleuroperitoneal fold. Chemical engineers are in a particularly unique position to improve the quality of life for humans. It takes a multi-disciplinary approach to conduct research, understand diseases and their pathways, and engineer new medicines. I will utilize my degree to research the suspected factors that are believed to cause CDH. I look forward to collaborating with fellow master’s program students, Professors, and researchers. I am ready for the opportunity to be an asset to the CDH community, as we strive together to improve the quality of life for all humans.

The world, its inhabitants, its behaviors, and nature can often be described by mathematical expressions. That astonishing statement is what draws me to math and shapes my understanding of the world. I still remember saying after taking calculus II, "Oh, I will never use math in real-life applications." I started taking advanced courses in physics, chemistry, and thermodynamics. I was proved wrong when I began to learn about Newton's Laws and Equations of State. This is when math became co-linear with my life and my career. During my internship with NSLS-II, math became imperative. It was necessary to calculate how much solvent and solute were needed to crystallize biomolecules to prepare them for x-ray diffraction. Math is also used to collimate the light beam as well as the software that collects the data. Once the data is collected, math is necessary to determine the crystalline properties and determine the atomic arrangements of the crystals. I was especially impressed when I began to analyze the quality of the data by calculating and interpolating the molecular dynamics of biomolecules between observed states of x-ray diffraction. Using linear and polynomial regression, I was able to better understand how well the data fits the model. Yielding more accurate, precise visualizations leads to an improved understanding of molecular function. Using math allowed me to understand how the biomolecule behaves at each coordinate (in this case varying pH levels). Without math, this analysis could not happen. The analysis is imperative to understand the behaviors of biomolecules which leads to improvements in drug discovery. Math in this case is used to make the world a better place. Majoring in Chemical Engineering has led to a greater appreciation and understanding of math. Since energy can neither be created nor destroyed, there are many mathematical expressions that I use to explain how. Whether it is calculating changes in enthalpy, entropy, work, saturation, phases, you name it, calculus is necessary to explain the behaviors. My favorite activity is calculating enthalpy paths to move a mixture or a pure substance from one phase to another. I gain a greater understanding of phase changes by combining definite integrals, derivatives, and interpolations. Major advances made in coding and the use of algorithms increase the depth of understanding and aid in streamlining the analysis of data. Without coding, math would be more difficult. I rely on the algorithms I have created to complete repetitive calculations more accurately than I could do by hand or with a calculator. I also have used coding to visualize the analysis of data through graphs. The slope of a linear regression line can tell me the information I need if calculated and plotted properly. Although I have a 4.0 average in math, I once said, "Oh, I will never use math in real-life applications.". From Newton's Laws to x-ray diffraction to coding, math is an important part of a career in science. I am happy to use math to help shape my understanding of the world.

I have always been driven by my desire to lead myself and others in a collaborative effort to improve the quality of life for all humans. Obtaining a master’s degree in chemical engineering will be a valuable contribution to a career in drug research and discovery. A recent experience that drives my academic interests was the birth of my son. At twenty weeks in utero, my son was diagnosed with left-sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). It is a serious, often fatal birth defect that occurs when the diaphragm fails to close during fetal development. The opening allows the contents of the abdomen to enter the chest, impeding the development of the lungs. At birth, pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension become life-threatening. CDH is one of the most common congenital defects, the cause is unknown and there is no cure. Six weeks after the sudden death of my husband, our son was born, one month premature at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Special Delivery Unit. He survived on a ventilator in a medically induced coma for twenty-five days, survived hernia repair surgery at just eighteen days old, and was able to come home after thirty-one days. I slept in a recliner next to his hospital bed every single one of those nights. Most infants are not as lucky as my son. They are hospitalized for months surviving on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines, risking strokes. Most come home with ventilators, feeding tubes, amongst other genetic conditions. Some do not survive. My son left the hospital with minor medical concerns. I owe it to my son, to other infants, to their parents and families to do my part discovering a cause or a cure for CDH. They are why I have chosen to major in chemical engineering, and they are why I strive to earn a master’s degree. Consequently, I had to walk away from an 11 year career to care for our son. Surviving on widow's benefits is not the ideal life, my son deserves better. This is why I returned to education. Although I will have to finance my education through loans, scholarships, and grants, obtaining a bachelor's and master’s degree in chemical engineering will give me the knowledge and flexibility I need to succeed in this rapidly developing field. Very little research concerning CDH has been attempted or completed. It has been hypothesized that abnormal retinoid signaling is the cause of CDH. The research opportunities available to students and higher caliber of learning at Syracuse University will give me the skills needed to begin my research in CDH-inducing teratogens and retinoid signaling. An advanced degree will develop skills in writing grant proposals, and provide a deeper understanding of the mechanism of RA binding proteins and RA acceptors within the embryonic pleuroperitoneal fold. Chemical engineers are in a particularly unique position to improve the quality of life for humans. It takes a multi-disciplinary approach to conduct research, understand diseases and their pathways, and engineer new medicines. I will utilize my degree to research the suspected factors that are believed to cause CDH. I look forward to collaborating with fellow master’s program students, Professors, and researchers. I am ready for the opportunity to be an asset to the CDH community, as we strive together to improve the quality of life for all humans.

My first research experience was a virtual summer internship through CCI. After participating in the Winter Mini-Semester, I knew I wanted to participate in the summer internship program to learn more about a career in research at a national laboratory like Brookhaven. I reached out to Dr. Lisa Miller asking her to recommend a few scientists that work in drug discovery and x-ray diffraction. She was very helpful and suggested two mentors to email! I immediately drafted emails, expressing my interests in a career in drug discovery, structural biology, and x-ray diffraction. I sent my resume, listed my skills, and explained the qualities that would make me a great mentee. I invited the mentors to participate in a phone call to further discuss my skills and interests in Brookhaven National Laboratory. Although there was no guarantee I would be offered an appointment at Brookhaven National Laboratory; I was thrilled to make valuable connections with Dr. Vivian Stojanoff and Dr. Lisa Miller! They are a huge inspiration to women in STEM and exemplify a standard I wish to pursue. Waiting to find out if I would be awarded an appointment was excruciating, but it finally came! The internship was exactly what I was looking for. It focused on analyzing the dynamic behavior of insulin. It was an amazing experience because I learned how to collaborate and navigate work on two different virtual teams. We met daily, shared our progress, and delegated tasks. In the beginning, I repeatedly read a publication that our research would center around. I made sure I could comprehend every sentence and how it compared to our research. I attended guest lectures and participated in an exciting group intern project called “Shark Tank”. Often my teammate Jason Caesar and I would touch base at the end of the day to talk over any hurdles we encountered, or to celebrate advancements we had made. This internship was deeply beneficial to my career. My mentors were eager to teach and extremely supportive. I learned how to edit code in LINUX, grow crystals, prepare crystals for x-ray diffraction, collect x-ray diffraction data at the 19-ID NYX beamline, comprehend x-ray diffraction data, use polynomial fitting to determine the most accurate data sets, analyze and refine biomolecule structures using COOT and CCP4, visualize dynamic behavior using PyMOL, utilize the Protein Data Bank, discover novel dynamic behavior in insulin, present our research via PowerPoint and Poster Presentations. My communication skills improved as well as my technical and analytical skills. The CCI program was a dream come true, a perfect method to explore my interest in the field of molecular dynamics, crystallography, and x-ray diffraction. After completing the internship, I was able to practice what I had learned by extending my research over the fall semester. Under the mentorships of Dr. Vivian Stojanoff and Dr. Lisa Miller, completing the CCI program confirmed that I am interested in conducting research for drug discovery by utilizing methods like x-ray diffraction and cryogenic electron microscopy at Brookhaven National Laboratory’s NSLS-II. I look forward to making discoveries that contribute to making the world a safer, healthier place for all of humanity.

I have always been driven by my desire to lead myself and others in a collaborative effort to improve the quality of life for all humans. Obtaining a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Syracuse University will be a valuable contribution to a career in drug research and discovery. A recent experience that drives my academic interests was the birth of my son. At twenty weeks in utero, my son was diagnosed with left-sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). It is a serious, often fatal birth defect that occurs when the diaphragm fails to close during fetal development. The opening allows the contents of the abdomen to enter the chest, impeding the development of the lungs. At birth, pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension become life-threatening. CDH is one of the most common congenital defects, the cause is unknown and there is no cure. Six weeks after the sudden death of my husband, our son was born, one month premature at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Special Delivery Unit. He survived on a ventilator in a medically induced coma for twenty-five days, survived hernia repair surgery at just eighteen days old, and was able to come home after thirty-one days. I slept in a recliner next to his hospital bed every single one of those nights. Most infants are not as lucky as my son. They are hospitalized for months surviving on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines, risking strokes. Most come home with ventilators, feeding tubes, amongst other genetic conditions. Some do not survive. My son left the hospital with minor medical concerns. I owe it to my son, to other infants, to their parents and families to do my part discovering a cause or a cure for CDH. They are why I have chosen to major in chemical engineering, and they are why I strive to earn a master’s degree. Syracuse University is attractive because it ranks as a top-tier research institution that provides opportunities to explore a career in chemical molecular biotechnology. Although I will have to finance my education through loans, scholarships, and grants, obtaining a master’s degree in chemical engineering will give me the knowledge and flexibility I need to succeed in this rapidly developing field. Very little research concerning CDH has been attempted or completed. It has been hypothesized that abnormal retinoid signaling is the cause of CDH. The research opportunities available to students and higher caliber of learning at Syracuse University will give me the skills needed to begin my research in CDH-inducing teratogens and retinoid signaling. An advanced degree will develop skills in writing grant proposals, and provide a deeper understanding of the mechanism of RA binding proteins and RA acceptors within the embryonic pleuroperitoneal fold. Chemical engineers are in a particularly unique position to improve the quality of life for humans. It takes a multi-disciplinary approach to conduct research, understand diseases and their pathways, and engineer new medicines. I will utilize my degree to research the suspected factors that are believed to cause CDH. I am ready for the opportunity to be an asset to the CDH Community, as we strive together to improve the quality of life for all humans.

I have always been driven by my desire to lead myself and others in a collaborative effort to improve the quality of life for all humans. Obtaining a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Syracuse University will be a valuable contribution to a career in drug research and discovery. A recent experience that drives my academic interests was the birth of my son. At twenty weeks in utero, my son was diagnosed with left-sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). It is a serious, often fatal birth defect that occurs when the diaphragm fails to close during fetal development. The opening allows the contents of the abdomen to enter the chest, impeding the development of the lungs. At birth, pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension become life-threatening. CDH is one of the most common congenital defects, the cause is unknown and there is no cure. Six weeks after the sudden death of my husband, our son was born, one month premature at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Special Delivery Unit. He survived on a ventilator in a medically induced coma for twenty-five days, survived hernia repair surgery at just eighteen days old, and was able to come home after thirty-one days. I slept in a recliner next to his hospital bed every single one of those nights. Most infants are not as lucky as my son. They are hospitalized for months surviving on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines, risking strokes. Most come home with ventilators, feeding tubes, amongst other genetic conditions. Some do not survive. My son left the hospital with minor medical concerns. I owe it to my son, to other infants, to their parents and families to do my part discovering a cause or a cure for CDH. They are why I have chosen to major in chemical engineering, and they are why I strive to earn a master’s degree. Syracuse University is attractive because it ranks as a top-tier research institution that provides opportunities to explore a career in chemical molecular biotechnology. Although I will have to finance my education through loans, scholarships, and grants, obtaining a master’s degree in chemical engineering will give me the knowledge and flexibility I need to succeed in this rapidly developing field. Very little research concerning CDH has been attempted or completed. It has been hypothesized that abnormal retinoid signaling is the cause of CDH. The research opportunities available to students and higher caliber of learning at Syracuse University will give me the skills needed to begin my research in CDH-inducing teratogens and retinoid signaling. An advanced degree will develop skills in writing grant proposals, and provide a deeper understanding of the mechanism of RA binding proteins and RA acceptors within the embryonic pleuroperitoneal fold. Chemical engineers are in a particularly unique position to improve the quality of life for humans. It takes a multi-disciplinary approach to conduct research, understand diseases and their pathways, and engineer new medicines. I will utilize my degree to research the suspected factors that are believed to cause CDH. I am ready for the opportunity to be an asset to the CDH Community, as we strive together to improve the quality of life for all humans.

I have always been driven by my desire to lead myself and others in a collaborative effort to improve the quality of life for all humans. Obtaining a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Syracuse University will be a valuable contribution to a career in drug research and discovery. A recent experience that drives my academic interests was the birth of my son. At twenty weeks in utero, my son was diagnosed with left-sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). It is a serious, often fatal birth defect that occurs when the diaphragm fails to close during fetal development. The opening allows the contents of the abdomen to enter the chest, impeding the development of the lungs. At birth, pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension become life-threatening. CDH is one of the most common congenital defects, the cause is unknown and there is no cure. Six weeks after the sudden death of my husband, our son was born, one month premature at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Special Delivery Unit. He survived on a ventilator in a medically induced coma for twenty-five days, survived hernia repair surgery at just eighteen days old, and was able to come home after thirty-one days. I slept in a recliner next to his hospital bed every single one of those nights. Most infants are not as lucky as my son. They are hospitalized for months surviving on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines, risking strokes. Most come home with ventilators, feeding tubes, amongst other genetic conditions. Some do not survive. My son left the hospital with minor medical concerns. I owe it to my son, to other infants, to their parents and families to do my part discovering a cause or a cure for CDH. They are why I have chosen to major in chemical engineering, and they are why I strive to earn a master’s degree. Syracuse University is attractive because it ranks as a top-tier research institution that provides opportunities to explore a career in chemical molecular biotechnology. Although I will have to finance my education through loans, scholarships, and grants, obtaining a master’s degree in chemical engineering will give me the knowledge and flexibility I need to succeed in this rapidly developing field. Very little research concerning CDH has been attempted or completed. It has been hypothesized that abnormal retinoid signaling is the cause of CDH. The research opportunities available to students and higher caliber of learning at Syracuse University will give me the skills needed to begin my research in CDH-inducing teratogens and retinoid signaling. An advanced degree will develop skills in writing grant proposals, and provide a deeper understanding of the mechanism of RA binding proteins and RA acceptors within the embryonic pleuroperitoneal fold. Chemical engineers are in a particularly unique position to improve the quality of life for humans. It takes a multi-disciplinary approach to conduct research, understand diseases and their pathways, and engineer new medicines. I will utilize my degree to research the suspected factors that are believed to cause CDH. I am ready for the opportunity to be an asset to the CDH Community, as we strive together to improve the quality of life for all humans.

I have always been driven by my desire to lead myself and others in a collaborative effort to improve the quality of life for all humans. Obtaining a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Syracuse University will be a valuable contribution to a career in drug research and discovery. A recent experience that drives my academic interests was the birth of my son. At twenty weeks in utero, my son was diagnosed with left-sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). It is a serious, often fatal birth defect that occurs when the diaphragm fails to close during fetal development. The opening allows the contents of the abdomen to enter the chest, impeding the development of the lungs. At birth, pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension become life-threatening. CDH is one of the most common congenital defects, the cause is unknown and there is no cure. Six weeks after the sudden death of my husband, our son was born, one month premature at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Special Delivery Unit. He survived on a ventilator in a medically induced coma for twenty-five days, survived hernia repair surgery at just eighteen days old, and was able to come home after thirty-one days. I slept in a recliner next to his hospital bed every single one of those nights. Most infants are not as lucky as my son. They are hospitalized for months surviving on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines, risking strokes. Most come home with ventilators, feeding tubes, amongst other genetic conditions. Some do not survive. My son left the hospital with minor medical concerns. I owe it to my son, to other infants, to their parents and families to do my part discovering a cause or a cure for CDH. They are why I have chosen to major in chemical engineering, and they are why I strive to earn a master’s degree. Syracuse University is attractive because it ranks as a top-tier research institution that provides opportunities to explore a career in chemical molecular biotechnology. Although I will have to finance my education through loans, scholarships, and grants, obtaining a master’s degree in chemical engineering will give me the knowledge and flexibility I need to succeed in this rapidly developing field. Very little research concerning CDH has been attempted or completed. It has been hypothesized that abnormal retinoid signaling is the cause of CDH. The research opportunities available to students and higher caliber of learning at Syracuse University will give me the skills needed to begin my research in CDH-inducing teratogens and retinoid signaling. An advanced degree will develop skills in writing grant proposals, and provide a deeper understanding of the mechanism of RA binding proteins and RA acceptors within the embryonic pleuroperitoneal fold. Chemical engineers are in a particularly unique position to improve the quality of life for humans. It takes a multi-disciplinary approach to conduct research, understand diseases and their pathways, and engineer new medicines. I will utilize my degree to research the suspected factors that are believed to cause CDH. I am ready for the opportunity to be an asset to the CDH Community, as we strive together to improve the quality of life for all humans.

I have always been driven by my desire to lead myself and others in a collaborative effort to improve the quality of life for all humans. Obtaining a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Syracuse University will be a valuable contribution to a career in drug research and discovery. A recent experience that drives my academic interests was the birth of my son. At twenty weeks in utero, my son was diagnosed with left-sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). It is a serious, often fatal birth defect that occurs when the diaphragm fails to close during fetal development. The opening allows the contents of the abdomen to enter the chest, impeding the development of the lungs. At birth, pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension become life-threatening. CDH is one of the most common congenital defects, the cause is unknown and there is no cure. Six weeks after the sudden death of my husband, our son was born, one month premature at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Special Delivery Unit. He survived on a ventilator in a medically induced coma for twenty-five days, survived hernia repair surgery at just eighteen days old, and was able to come home after thirty-one days. I slept in a recliner next to his hospital bed every single one of those nights. Most infants are not as lucky as my son. They are hospitalized for months surviving on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines, risking strokes. Most come home with ventilators, feeding tubes, amongst other genetic conditions. Some do not survive. My son left the hospital with minor medical concerns. I owe it to my son, to other infants, to their parents and families to do my part discovering a cause or a cure for CDH. They are why I have chosen to major in chemical engineering, and they are why I strive to earn a master’s degree. Syracuse University is attractive because it ranks as a top-tier research institution that provides opportunities to explore a career in chemical molecular biotechnology. Although I will have to finance my education through loans, scholarships, and grants, obtaining a master’s degree in chemical engineering will give me the knowledge and flexibility I need to succeed in this rapidly developing field. Very little research concerning CDH has been attempted or completed. It has been hypothesized that abnormal retinoid signaling is the cause of CDH. The research opportunities available to students and higher caliber of learning at Syracuse University will give me the skills needed to begin my research in CDH-inducing teratogens and retinoid signaling. An advanced degree will develop skills in writing grant proposals, and provide a deeper understanding of the mechanism of RA binding proteins and RA acceptors within the embryonic pleuroperitoneal fold. Chemical engineers are in a particularly unique position to improve the quality of life for humans. It takes a multi-disciplinary approach to conduct research, understand diseases and their pathways, and engineer new medicines. I will utilize my degree to research the suspected factors that are believed to cause CDH. I am ready for the opportunity to be an asset to the CDH Community, as we strive together to improve the quality of life for all humans.

I have always been driven by my desire to lead myself and others in a collaborative effort to improve the quality of life for all humans. Obtaining a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Syracuse University will be a valuable contribution to a career in drug research and discovery. A recent experience that drives my academic interests was the birth of my son. At twenty weeks in utero, my son was diagnosed with left-sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). It is a serious, often fatal birth defect that occurs when the diaphragm fails to close during fetal development. The opening allows the contents of the abdomen to enter the chest, impeding the development of the lungs. At birth, pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension become life-threatening. CDH is one of the most common congenital defects, the cause is unknown and there is no cure. Six weeks after the sudden death of my husband, our son was born, one month premature at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Special Delivery Unit. He survived on a ventilator in a medically induced coma for twenty-five days, survived hernia repair surgery at just eighteen days old, and was able to come home after thirty-one days. I slept in a recliner next to his hospital bed every single one of those nights. Most infants are not as lucky as my son. They are hospitalized for months surviving on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines, risking strokes. Most come home with ventilators, feeding tubes, amongst other genetic conditions. Some do not survive. My son left the hospital with minor medical concerns. I owe it to my son, to other infants, to their parents and families to do my part discovering a cause or a cure for CDH. They are why I have chosen to major in chemical engineering, and they are why I strive to earn a master’s degree. Syracuse University is attractive because it ranks as a top-tier research institution that provides opportunities to explore a career in chemical molecular biotechnology. Although I will have to finance my education through loans, scholarships, and grants, obtaining a master’s degree in chemical engineering will give me the knowledge and flexibility I need to succeed in this rapidly developing field. Very little research concerning CDH has been attempted or completed. It has been hypothesized that abnormal retinoid signaling is the cause of CDH. The research opportunities available to students and higher caliber of learning at Syracuse University will give me the skills needed to begin my research in CDH-inducing teratogens and retinoid signaling. An advanced degree will develop skills in writing grant proposals, and provide a deeper understanding of the mechanism of RA binding proteins and RA acceptors within the embryonic pleuroperitoneal fold. Chemical engineers are in a particularly unique position to improve the quality of life for humans. It takes a multi-disciplinary approach to conduct research, understand diseases and their pathways, and engineer new medicines. I will utilize my degree to research the suspected factors that are believed to cause CDH. I am ready for the opportunity to be an asset to the CDH Community, as we strive together to improve the quality of life for all humans.