Featuring Hood Graduate Alumna | Emma Bowers, M.S. Environmental Biology, 2012

After completing my B.S. in Biology from Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV, I decided to pursue an M.S. in Environmental Biology from Hood College. I completed my thesis under co-advisors Dr. Sue Carney and Dr. Drew Ferrier in the spring of 2012. After gaining research experience from my Master’s thesis on herbicide toxicity, I realized that I wanted to pursue further study in environmental health and toxicology.  I consequently pursued a Ph.D. in Toxicology from UNC Chapel Hill. I am currently a postdoctoral student with Dr. Ken Ramos at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.

I knew that I wanted to attend graduate school in the life sciences, but I wasn’t sure which path to take or what my career options would be. I enrolled in Hood College's Environmental Biology M.S. program to gain research experience and learn more about the field that I was interested in.

Hood was a stepping stone between my undergraduate and graduate education. The Hood College biology department faculty was like a close family that helped me plan my next steps. After taking Pollution Biology with Dr. Ferrier and performing my Master’s thesis on herbicide toxicity, I realized that I wanted to pursue further study in environmental health and toxicology. After graduating from Hood College, I received my Ph.D. from UNC Chapel Hill. During my dissertation research I studied the health impacts of air pollution on human health.  Currently I am a post-doctoral researcher investigating how pollution exposure can cause cancer.  I soon hope to have my own lab and continue researching and teaching.

I miss the Hood College biology faculty.  They are collegial, inspiring, and dedicated to students.  My peers were wonderful and they made evening classes interesting and fun.  My favorite thing about Hood is that there is always something interesting happening.  If you are adventurous, there is no limit to what you might do. Some of my favorite memories include:

• Night snorkeling during Tropical Reef Ecology class with Dr. Drew Ferrier.
• Dr. April Boulton’s Diet for a Small Planet potlock
• Capturing macroinvertebrates (crayfish and bugs) in local streams with Drs. Annis,Ferrier and Albaugh
• Visiting the Fort Detrick Plant Disease Containment Facility to learn about invasive organisms
• Traveling to Berlin with Dr. Scott Pincikowski and his students
• Meeting my husband and my best friend (all Hood alum!)

Inspired? #GOFUTHER in your education and career by applying to Hood College Graduate School! Learn more about the Environmental Biology M.S. program by clicking here.