Name: Siddharth Ghosh Roy
Class: 2025
Major: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Minor: Data Science
How did you decide on your major?
When I was a freshman, I joined the Gu lab in the MBB department. At the time I knew I was interested in biology but was still deciding between the different life science majors. I quickly fell in love with the lab and with my research work there. Majoring in MBB made it easy to continue my research, and I liked that the courses could challenge me. As a bonus, it was a small major and all the upperclassmen I met were very supportive.
What is it about your chosen field (and the MBB Department) that appeals to you?
I hope to go into medical research after graduation. Biomedical research gives me the chance to explore, discover, and innovate every day, and I like the idea of my work benefiting human health. As for my major, I like that it gives me the freedom to pursue the lab work that interests me. I'm just starting to get to the electives now, and so far, they have been very interesting. I know many of the professors and they know me, and there's a lot of support available if you ask for it. The material can get dense sometimes, but the people teaching it are always excited to help you learn.
Do you have a favorite class/professor within your major?
My favorite class so far has been Chromatin and Epigenomics taught by Dr. Sam Gu and Dr. Mikel Zaratiegui. Taking classes related to the research you do really stretches your mind, and you're always learning cool things - apparently it only takes four genes to turn any of your cells back into a stem cell.
What are your favorite academic experiences outside of your major? What are your other Rutgers activities?
I like to teach, and most of what I do on campus centers on that. I work as a Peer Instructor at the Aresty Research Center helping students get started with research. I also help teach Organic Chemistry as a Learning Assistant, and I'm part of a few clubs around campus.
What are your plans following graduation?
Upon graduation I plan to apply to MD/PhD programs.