As you think about graduating from Nebraska, please share any transformational moment(s) — a class you took, a professor with whom you had a strong connection, a way you got involved on campus, an internship or experience you had off campus. How did it help shape who you are or what you will do going forward?
For me there were three faculty members that had a huge impact on my life not only as a student but also as a person. Sophomore year I was still a Pre-Med student thinking that it would be the best outlet for my love for science and the scientific process and volunteering in Dr. Weavers Virology lab. Then I took at the time what I thought would just be another science, it was Botany with Dr. Elowsky. This class really sparked something I me. Growing up in a family of farmers, detasseling, and landscaping I thought I knew a lot about plants but during this class Dr. Elowsky really showed me how intricate, unique, and powerful plants can be. Following this class I as Dr. Elowsky if he could help me pursue this new found passion in plants. And it was with his help that I got introduced to the second faculty member that impacted me, Dr. Hernan Garcia-Ruiz. Before meeting Dr. Garcia-Ruiz I was volunteering in a research lab and really fell in love with the everyday on going scientific process of investigating, testing, analyzing, and improving. So when meeting Dr. Garcia I found a mentor who could help merge my two passions of plants and research science. Ever since then I've been working in his lab and still look forward to it everyday. Through Dr. Garcia-Ruiz's mentorship I have really grown into a proficient research scientist and I'm excited to continue that journey and growth as I pursue my PhD at the University of Washington. Lastly, Dr. Mary Willis and their class Food Security: A Global Perspective. Had a huge impact on me it really opened my eyes to the worldwide, national, and communal food security that is often overlooked or downplayed. Through the class and the real conversations facilitated by Dr. Willis I began to realize the impact plants for agriculture and plants for food, and how big of an impact access to affordable and healthy food have on everyone in innumerable ways. Dr. Willis and that class really showed me how necessary and important research into plant are.
List 3-5 involvements while on campus.
"Phi Gamma Delta
Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience
Institute Of Agriculture and Natural Resources Research/Grant
Plant Pathology Department"
Plans (job, continuing education, internship, etc) after graduation. Include which city/state you will be living in.
Following graduation I will be pursuing my PhD at The University of Washington in Seattle. Where my focus will be on plant microbiology, genetics and plant interactions.
Fill in the blank: "The best thing about being a Husker is ___________________."
Being apart of a big worldwide family of Huskers, where we love our sports, university, state, and our fellow Huskers.
Write a "thank you message" to someone who helped you throughout your time as a Husker.
"To: Dr. Elowsky
Thank you, for helping me find my passions and helping me pursue them. Without your help I wouldn't be where I am now, who know I still might be a Pre-Med. With your help I have really found something that I love doing, something that I look forward to, and something that now I can't imagine my life without it. I can't wait for what my future holds and I have you to thank for being a part of the process that brought me to where I am now. Like you said first generation students gotta stick together.
Thank you for all your help,
Benjamin Downing"
More details at: http://microbiology.unl.edu