Parnika Kadam, Ph.D. (’14)

Postdoctoral fellow, UPenn School of Medicine; PhD Graduate, Georgetown University Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Georgetown University

I started my journey at Georgetown University for a Master’s in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Fall 2013. During my fourth year of B.Tech in Biotechnology, I realized that I wanted to pursue a Master’s degree for a better career as a researcher.

I remember browsing through the Georgetown University webpage to apply for Master’s in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I was impressed by the structure, duration, as well as diverse courses offered by this Program. The perfect amalgamation of classes, lab experience and internship makes this Program perfect for anyone who wants a career in the field of Biology. This Program helped me advance my understanding of Biochemistry, Cell culture, Bioinformatics as well as introducing me to the interesting fields of Structural Biology and Food Biotechnology. This 9-month Master’s Program requiring completion of 30 credits has indeed been challenging but the experience was totally worth it.

Some of the courses that focused on hands-on experiences like Lab Applications and cell culture helped me to get a lead in my internship project. I particularly loved the way one could select a bunch of electives from a diverse set of courses, giving flexibility. This Program not only enriched me with key concepts of molecular biology but also taught me time- and self-management. Moreover, the cultural diversity of students enrolled with me has added so much more to my knowledge about different cultures and it truly makes me believe that cultural diversity makes one get a better perspective.

The internship requirement of this course is great to have a flavor of research in industry or lab. This is the time when I was exposed to the nitty-gritty of a research project. I did my internship in Dr. Sandberg’s lab during my Master’s program. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Sandberg’s Lab. I am extremely glad to be a part of this department and a member of Sandberg’s Lab. Motivating and interactive professors, excellent courses and wonderful colleagues have made my learning a fun experience. This experience has made me well rounded as an individual as well as a researcher. I am looking forward to continuing my journey in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Georgetown University.