Hannah Yin(2004 TA: 2008)
College/Degrees
– University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (will graduate in May
2009 with B.S. Biology & B.A. Linguistics)
Employer/Job Title
– UNC School of Medicine (M.D., intended graduation in May
2013… or 2014, see the following) – (Maybe) UNC School of Public
Health (M.P.H., 2012; in this case, I would graduate from medical
school in 2014)
Accomplishments
1) Scientific research-related
– Publication: Wang S, Xing Z, Vosler PS, Yin H, Li W, Zhang F, Signore AP, Stetler RA, Gao Y, Chen J. (2008). Cellular NAD
replenishment confers marked neuroprotection against ischemic cell death: role of enhanced DNA repair. Stroke, 39 (9): 2587-95.
– Pending publication: Sunman JA, Yin H, Akiyama SK. Inhibition of PC-3 Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion by 4-Phenyl-3-Butenoic
Acid. In preparation.
– Award: Outstanding Summer Poster, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH-NIEHS), 2006
– Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society, 2005
2) Service-related
– Community Impact Student Award, North Carolina Campus Compact, 2007
– UNC Public Service Scholar
3) Leadership experience
– Workshop presenter, National Service Learning Conference, Nashville, TN, 2009
– President, UNC APPLES Service-Learning Program, 2008-2009
– Member, Carolina Union Board of Directors, 2007-2009
– Senior Adviser, Duke-Carolina Student Basketball Marathon, 2008-2009
Testimonial
I entered PGSS already loving science, but only on a theoretical level, for I’d never had any experience doing science before the summer of 2004. The challenging lecture and laboratory work at PGSS, and, in particular, the team research project, made science tangible as a field to me. Even more incredibly, the social dynamic generated at PGSS demonstrated just how rewarding and fun it is to work with other driven, talented students. It’s the nights we stayed up, first doing homework and then just hanging out, that will stay with me forever. I am so thankful for the network of friends I now have, and take pride in knowing that amongst them will emerge some of the leaders in a wide range of fields in the following decades. But PGSS gave me more than just an increased grasp on the scientific field. It instilled in me a sense of responsibility to use my skills to contribute in new and creative ways to society. PGSS is not a didactic program; it does not tell you how great science is and how weshould go about our scientific careers. Rather, it offers us a glimmer of just how rewarding it is to put our talents into action; it gives us the tools to pursue our own course, and urges us to dream big dreams. For me, this has meant diving into social entrepreneurial applications of science. My personal drive to work with people from all walks has guided me into a medical career, but to merely practice clinically will never satisfy me. I want to do my part in helping the under- served, working for those who few others are working for. I want to conduct community-based research and make health care affordable in the most impoverished counties of North Carolina. NC is, after all, where I grew up and where I am receiving both my collegiate and graduate educations. PGSS has been instrumental in shaping my life’s path. My five weeks there gave me some of the most fun moments and best friends I will ever know. It pushed me to my very intellectual limits and demonstrated the beauty of collaborating with peers. But perhaps most importantly of all, PGSS has shown me that each person has to find their own calling, and that it is precisely the most challenging battles are the ones most worth fighting. It is this quality, above all else, that gives me such hope for the future. I know that many PGSS alumni will lead our nation and world through tough times and to greater heights in the years to come.