Hi Phuong and thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions. Last year, you were a Gen-PINC scholar and completed both the PINC and gSTAR programs - which earned you the Computing Applications minor and Data Science and Machine Learning for Biotech Certificate. You will graduate this semester and have been accepted to UCSF's PharmD program! How do you feel about your journey at SFSU and what are you looking forward to in grad school?
I had a memorable and rewarding education journey at SFSU. It was a unique and unforgettable experience for me. Beside pursuing a degree in Cell and Molecular Biology, I participated in the PINC and gSTAR programs, which provided me with new computational skills, I was selected as a Gen-PINC scholar, and a summer intern at Genentech. Also, I got to meet and work with amazing faculty members like Professor Pennings and Professor Yoon. The faculty members of SFSU and the PINC programs had been very supportive in helping me throughout my journey at SFSU. I also got to meet many amazing friends and classmates along the ways as well!
After graduating from SFSU this semester, I am looking forward to starting a new journey as a pharmacy student at UCSF. I had always been interested in Pharmacy, so I am very excited to be able to follow my passion and interest. Also, I am looking forward to the real life hand-on patient care experiment at UCSF.
I had a memorable and rewarding education journey at SFSU. It was a unique and unforgettable experience for me.
How did the PINC and gSTAR programs impact your academic journey and what advice would you offer to prospective students who are thinking about joining the PINC and gSTAR programs?
The PINC and gSTAR programs had positive impacts on my academic journey. I was able to learn new and useful computational skills, which I can apply to future scientific research. Also, I had an opportunity to apply what I learned to my internship at Genentech in the summer of 2022 which helped me gain insights into the biotech industry. PINC and gSTAR provided much-needed networking, and interview skills which were very beneficial during my internship interviews as well as my pharmacy school admission interviews.
One piece of advice that I would like to offer to prospective students who are thinking about joining the PINC and gSTAR programs is: always be open to new experiences, joining PINC and gSTAR will require additional time and effort, but the outcomes will be well worth it in the end.
You mentioned an internship with Genentech. What can you share about your internship experience and what advice do you have for students looking for internship opportunities now?
My internship experience at Genentech last summer was very informative and rewarding. The internship provided me with the opportunity to apply what I learned in the PINC program to a real research project, as well as the chance to improve my communication and presentation skills. I also got useful insights into the working culture at a biotech company. Also, I was very fortunate to meet and work with many amazing scientists at Genentech -- I learned more about their jobs and their research projects.
One piece of advice I have for students looking for internship opportunities is to apply to many different internships that they are interested in and not just apply for one or two. Another piece of advice is to take the time to learn about the company and the position you applied for before the interview.
One piece of advice that I would like to offer to prospective students who are thinking about joining the PINC and gSTAR programs is: always be open to new experiences, joining PINC and gSTAR will require additional time and effort, but the outcomes will be well worth it in the end.
After completing the PINC program, you decided to become a mentor and teaching assistant in both the PINC and gSTAR programs. What can you tell us about your experience as a mentor and TA, and how do you manage your time with so many responsibilities?
Becoming a mentor and teaching assistant in both the PINC and gSTAR programs is a very interesting and meaningful experience for me. Since I had completed the classes in the PINC programs, I am able to use my previous knowledge to support current PINC students with their courses works. At the same, Iit is an opportunity for me to review and improve my computational skills. Additionally, being a mentor provides me with an opportunity to continue to be involved in the PINC program and meet new people too.
With so many responsibilities as both a student, mentor, and teaching assistant, I manage my time by planning and prioritizing my tasks throughout the week and trying to stick to the schedule as much as I can so that I won't fall behind in my classes as well as the tasks of a mentor and teaching assistant.
Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak with me today, and congratulations on all your achievements! Is there anything you'd like to add?
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my experiences at SFSU, and in the PINC/gSTAR programs. Also, I am very grateful to be part of this amazing institution and programs. Thank you for all the support and guidance.