Jane Donnelly, G1

Why did you choose to attend Northwestern MSTP?

I chose Northwestern because the Chemistry department is one of the best in the world, and I was so excited about the cutting-edge work happening there. I also loved Chicago when I visited; I knew I wanted a big city, and Chicago felt so vibrant with its many different vibes and neighborhoods. I wanted a place that I’d still be excited to explore eight years on, and Chicago is that city!

In addition, all the Northwestern MSTP students I first met were so great. They were able to do some excellent science while still enjoying the city and developing their outside interests, and that's definitely the type of environment I wanted to be working in.

Tell us what you've enjoyed most about the previous phase and what you’re most looking forward to in your new phase.

The part I enjoyed most about M2 year was the clinical time. I felt much more independent in the Education-Centered Medical Home (ECMH) clinic, and being there really helped me make connections in the classroom material and stay motivated during the long hours of studying. For the G1 phase, I’m most looking forward to getting back in the lab – I’m excited to have more independence and, more importantly, to talk about chemistry all day.

Share your path to Feinberg – what interesting experiences did you have prior to enrolling?

After I graduated from Georgetown, I did research on a Fulbright scholarship at the University of Warwick in the U.K. I was studying the role of copper, iron and other transition metals in neurodegeneration. As part of the project, I got to spend a lot of time doing combined imaging and spectroscopy on human brain samples at the Diamond Light Source synchrotron. Once the pandemic began, I became involved in a project about iron regulation in critical illness and viral infections. Outside the lab, I was able to do some amazing weekend trips (including lots of theater and observing a session of the House of Commons)!

How would you describe the curriculum at Feinberg? What do you find unique or innovative?

One of the most rewarding (but also most challenging!) parts of the Feinberg curriculum is the focus on feedback and self-improvement. We are encouraged to value feedback from all levels – professors, older students and our peers. I think this creates a sense of communal growth; we are all on the same team and invested in each other’s success!