Salan Preet Kaur

Why you chose your major

I want to pursue a career in the health field so I always knew that a major in Biology would be perfect for it. After coming to college, I took an introductory course in Psychology for a general requirement and I absolutely loved it. I ended up declaring it my minor at the end of the same semester. My HMed minor was recommended to me by my academic advisor as it is great for students who are on a pre-health track.

Favorite course

I took LIFE 121 (Fundamentals of Biology II) in my second semester freshman year. The course also had a lab component. We went to the Morrill Hall (the State Museum) for one of the labs. I enjoyed being there so I applied for a Student Ambassador position at the museum. I got the position and spent a year working there-giving tours and doing outreach activities. It was a big step for me to get out of my comfort zone. This position served as a stepping stone for all my succeeding activities.

Research, education abroad, or internship experience

I have been involved in a research project under the Department of Virology. My project focusses on genotyping viruses present in eye cancers. The tumor biopsies and tear samples were taken from patients back in Africa. I perform DNA extractions, genotyping and analysis of results so that I could identify which DNA Tumor virus could be having an impact on the tumor.

Other involvement

I am also involved in the College of Arts and Sciences Student Advisory Board, the Humanities in Medicine Student Advisory Board, and a Resident Assistant.

Why you chose Nebraska

I chose to came to Nebraska because of good quality research going on in my field and a good scholarship.