Q: Hi! Thank you for doing this. Can you talk a little bit about who you are and what you do at Alma College?
A: Hi! I’m Alyssa Burger and I’m a second-year student from Bay City, Mich. I’m planning on double-majoring in neuroscience and psychology.
Q: I understand you’ve been accepted into a very prestigious program for researchers. Tell us about it.
A: Unfortunately, this is up in the air right now, due to budget cuts. But before that happened, I had been accepted to a summer internship program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Maryland. It’s a really exciting program that allows you to pursue research with some of the top researchers across the country, using cutting-edge technology. If I had gone, I would have worked at the National Institute of Drug Abuse.
Q: Why is that? Does that topic interest you?
A: My eventual goal is to do a dual M.D./Ph.D. program and work as a psychiatrist. I’m very interested in the effects of substance abuse on society and how that relates to our country’s prison system. I’d like to do research related to those topics while working to help people who are struggling with substance abuse.
Q: What was the application process like that for that summer internship program at the NIH?
A: This past summer, I did the summer research program with Dr. Zackary Bowers and led our team of student researchers. We used a technique called Western blotting to analyze the brains of mice, specifically, to study proteins in the brain and the role they may play in human Alzheimer’s disease. It was interesting research and I think having that experience was a big help for my application to the NIH. I’m also grateful to Dr. Bowers and Dr. Brianna Harfmann for helping me with my application.
Q: What are your impressions of the neuroscience and psychology programs here at Alma College?
A: I think the faculty are amazing. I’m the supplemental instructor for Dr. Bowers’ class on psychopharmacology and it’s a pleasure to learn from him. He’s allowing me to do research as a second-year student that seniors wouldn’t get to do at other schools. It’s really valuable experience. Dr. Mark Setterlund is a kind, understanding and brilliant professor in the psychology department. As far as the curriculum goes, I feel like I’m learning a lot in my classes that will be reflected on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), so I’ll be able to get into a great graduate school program.
Q: What else are you involved with here at Alma College?
A: Two of my biggest extracurricular activities are the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority and the Kiltie Marching Band. I’m the president of our chapter of Phi Sig; it’s a great way to meet people and make friends. It’s not just one type of person either — our sorority is a real melting pot that brings people together from across campus. With the band, I’m the marching instructor and the uniform manager. So, I keep track of the kilts, jackets and everything else for the band, and I teach people how to march. One big reason why I came to Alma College is because it allows me the opportunity to do all of these things that I like to do, while also letting me do research and take classes.
Q: Are you doing anything else fun here at Alma?
A: Last year, I took a Spring Term course on J.R.R. Tolkien. We read “The Lord of the Rings,” and that was a lot of fun. This year, I’m going to New Zealand to study human biodiversity. I can’t wait!
