Senior Adele Handy has big plans for the future. She is a Foundation Fellow and CURO 2006 Summer Fellow working with professor Greg Robinson to do research in organometallic chemistry. She will graduate this spring with a dual major in psychology and biology. After graduation, she hopes to become a pediatrician and medical researcher.
Hometown:
Peachtree City, Ga.
High School:
McIntosh High School
Degree objective:
B.S. in biology and B.S. in psychology
Expected graduation:
Spring 2008
University highlights, achievements, awards and scholarships:
A couple years ago, I was selected as a CURO summer research fellow and worked in Dr. Greg Robinson’s laboratory. I have been in the laboratory for more than two years and have been published in the Journal of Organometallic Chemistry. Prior to my summer research, I traveled to Cortona, Italy and took part in the first Maymester pre-med study abroad program held there. Last spring I was awarded the mid-term Foundation Fellowship. I am also a member of AED, the pre-med honor society. In addition to these activities, I have been a volunteer at Athens Regional Medical Center for two years, I previously served as the vice-president for the Biological Sciences Student Association, and I was an active member of the Myers Hall Relay for Life team.
Current Employment:
I have worked in Dr. Robinson’s Organometallic Chemistry Laboratory since the beginning of the spring of my freshman year. Last summer, I worked on my own project trying to isolate a metal-metal bond using the ligand triphenylmethyllithium. While I am learning chemistry techniques and carrying out reactions, I am also trying to develop a scientific intuition for research. Success at research not only depends upon precision and accuracy, but also having a prepared mind ready to recognize a breakthrough. Participating in research has been more than a job to me; it has become a passion.
Family Ties to UGA:
My oldest brother graduated from UGA in the fall of 2005. He and I overlapped for one semester, and I absolutely loved it. Although we were both busy on campus, we started having Sunday night dinners together where he would take me and one of my friends out for a non-dining hall meal. It was great to have someone here to break me into college life.
I chose to attend UGA because…
…of the Honors program. Initially the size of the university was a deterrent, but the more I learned about the benefits of attending such a large school, I realized that I needed to have a place that offered such a variety of activities. The Honors program gave me a chance to find the qualities I was seeking in smaller schools, like class size and professor relationships, without losing the assets of having a huge student body and numerous on-campus opportunities.
My favorite things to do on campus are…
…to attend lectures. UGA draws such a prestigious group of presenters, almost on a weekly basis. Whether the subject matter is science or totally out of my field, I enjoy hearing about people’s experiences and what they have learned. I also enjoy running and attending football games. The enthusiasm and energy in a football crowd is unbelievable!
When I have free time, I like…
…to do crafts. From coloring to painting to making collages, it is such a great stress reliever. I lived in the residence hall during freshman year, and during the week of finals, I made everyone on our hall a paper holiday stocking, complete with glitter and cotton balls! When I am not trying to get in touch with my inner kid, I like to bake. Brownies are my favorite dessert to make, followed closely by melted ice cream cake and cherry cranberry pie.
The craziest thing I’ve done is…
…gone hang-gliding in the Swiss Alps. I recently traveled through Interlochen, Switzerland and decided to try it. There is no way I can adequately describe how amazing the experience was. I decided right then that if I could have one super-power it would definitely be to be able to fly!
My favorite place to study is…
…at my desk in front of a window. I like the quiet atmosphere of my room, but I find it necessary to be able to look up and see what is going on outside.
My favorite professor is…
…Betty Jean Craige. Although I only had a freshmen seminar with her, Dr. Craige has become my mentor. Last summer, she helped me plan a reading program for myself where I would read books focusing on medicine and disease and then write a paper for her to edit and critique. In addition, Dr. Craige has spent many afternoons discussing my career options and sharing her wisdom with me. Through her patient listening and careful advice, I feel that I can better decide what I truly want to accomplish in my life and formulate a plan of action to reach my goals.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with…
…James D. Watson, the co-discoverer of DNA. I read his book about the scientific search for DNA and was absolutely awed by his attitude and research style. I would love to spend an afternoon discussing his life and discovery and try to learn how to apply his thought process to my own research.
If I knew I could not fail, I would…
…run a research laboratory focused on childhood diseases, as well as see pediatric patients. I want to be able to help children, but I would like to do it on a more global level than just being the family doctor. By doing research in the pediatric field, I would be able to contribute to how doctors treat their patients. Ideally, I would work in a clinic that offers me a chance at both sides, and I would effectively balance the two.
After graduation, I plan to…
…become a M.D. and specialize in the field of pediatrics.
The one UGA experience I will always remember will be…
…living in Myers Hall. The two years I spent there were so much fun, from playing frisbee on the quad to decorating cookies for Valentine’s Day. I know that many of the people there will be my life-long friends, and I will never forget the time I have spent with them.
