Undergraduate Sana Hashmi is a triple major who plans to continue doing research after she graduates. She wants to become a medical doctor, academic researcher, wife and mother. She is a Foundation Fellow and CURO apprentice and CURO Young Summer Fellow. Working with a graduate student, Hashmi’s team become the first in the world to identify and locate important structures on a protein called alpha-dystroglycan. She has served as president of UGA Rotary for two terms and as co-president of the Association of Women in Science. She also played on the UGA women’s rugby club team freshman year. The UGA experience Hashmi will remember most is being able to travel with the Foundation Fellows program.
Hometown:
Augusta, Georgia
High School:
Lakeside High School (Evans)
Degree objective:
B.S. in biology; B.S. in microbiology; B.A. in religion
Expected graduation:
Spring 2009
University highlights, achievements, awards and scholarships:
I am the recipient of the Midterm Foundation Fellowship, the highest undergraduate scholarship offered by the university. I have also been recognized as a Presidential Scholar and as the top student at the Franklin College by the Athens Rotary Club. For my research, I have been awarded the CURO Apprenticeship and CURO Summer Fellowship. I have served as president of UGA Rotary for two terms and as co-president of the Association of Women in Science. I also participated on the UGA Women’s Rugby Team freshman year. I am an ambassador for Franklin College and the Honors Program, where I also serve as a teaching assistant. I also was the public relations officer for the Indian Student Association and a member of Palladia, a women’s honor society. I have completed medical internships on four different continents.
Current Employment:
I have worked in the lab of Lance Wells for the past three years, serving as both a CURO (Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities) Apprentice and CURO Young Summer Fellow. Along with UGA graduate student Stephanie Hammond, I have become the first in the world to identify and locate important structures on a protein called alpha-dystroglycan. I have presented at many conferences, including being the youngest presenter at the 2006 International Glycobiology Meeting and the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (Best Oral Presentation Award).
Family Ties to UGA:
I have a younger sister, Zaina, who is a sophomore here, as well as an amazingly fabulous group of close friends here that have become my UGA family. I feel so blessed to have such a supportive network on campus.
I chose to attend UGA because…
…of the caliber of education offered at UGA, especially the Honors Program. Not only are the academic excellence and environment among the best in the nation, but the opportunities offered here were not characteristic of many of the private prestigious institutions. For example, I started participating in ground-breaking research during my freshman year. What makes undergraduate research so meaningful and exciting is that my research is getting published and that I am at THE forefront of science. I am discovering something that no one else has done. This is an opportunity that most people may age do not have the opportunity to experience.
My favorite things to do on campus are…
…reading on Myers Quad on a sunny day.
When I have free time, I like…
…to wander around campus and meet new people. One of the reason that I love UGA is that there are always tons of events and fundraisers going on around campus. Not only do I get to meet new people, but I also get to help the world around me.
The craziest thing I’ve done is…
…travel to Brazil alone without knowing Portuguese or Spanish. Last summer, I was in Brazil for a medical internship in a children’s cancer hospital. In the beginning, not knowing the language was hard, especially when I was forgotten at the airport, but it was such an amazing experience to actually learn the language and culture in a native country.
My favorite place to study is…
…on the sixth floor of the main library. Not only is there a magnificent view of campus, but the study area is bounded by shelves of old magazines, dating back to the early 1900s. Whenever I need a break, I grab an old Vogue to read.
My favorite professor is…
…Lance Wells at the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, who serves as my faculty mentor for my research. Dr. Wells is an amazing person and is extremely talented. I truly admire him and his dedication and passion to what he loves, characteristics that he has passed onto me. Most importantly, Dr. Wells treats me not as a student, but as a colleague, pushing me to reach my potential.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with…
…the most impoverished person in the world. I think it is very important for people, especially students, to try to engage in experiences different than their own. It is through these incidents that you learn not only about the world, but you and your values evolve when you gain this broader global perspective. Because of this, I recently traveled to six countries on three continents to explore disparities in health, human rights, and justice.
If I knew I could not fail, I would…
I would not do something if I knew that I would not fail. I do not believe that an experience is valuable unless you have fought for it and endured failures. In fact, I believe that without failures, many of life’s lessons cannot be learned.
After graduation, I plan to…
…pursue a medical degree with hopes of a career in academic medicine and research. I would love the opportunity to be a doctor, wife and mother.
The one UGA experience I will always remember will be…
…traveling around the world! Experiencing other cultures really opens your eyes to not only the world but your own inner core. Whether it was distracting a child undergoing chemotherapy in Brazil or climbing the step of a castle in Scotland, each experience has helped shaped me as a person and for that opportunity I am forever grateful to UGA and the Honors/Foundation Fellows program.
