An Industry Experience Shaped an Interest in Cancer Research: Kristyn Hayashi
听
MY DISSERTATION & THE POTENTIAL OUTCOMES
I鈥檓 currently studying MAPK signaling thresholds using mass spectrometry proteomic and听phosphoproteomic approaches in Dr. Natalie Ahn鈥檚 lab. I developed my interest in cancer research, cell signaling and systems biology before coming to grad school. My time working听in industry research (AbbVie - formerly Stemcentrx) really solidified my love of science, helped听focus my research interests, and better prepared me for grad school.
听
Being selected in 2021-2023 (renewed in 2025) to participate as a trainee on the NIH sponsored T32听Graduate Training Program in Signaling and Cellular Regulation has been a great experience. I听really appreciated the cross-disciplinary approach and feel it fosters an interdepartmental sense听of community, building connections between the Biochemistry and the Molecular, Cellular &听Developmental Biology departments at CU 抖阴传媒在线.
WHERE I鈥橫 HEADED NOW
I hope my grad school training will broaden my scientific understanding to better develop a听scientific question and think critically. I love the problem-solving aspect of research, being able听to troubleshoot and design my own experiments. I鈥檝e gained more computational skills during my听graduate training that I hope to continue using and expand on in my future career.
After graduating, I hope to continue studying cancer research and help develop therapeutics in an听industry setting. I hope my science eventually helps patients.
鈥淎 highlight of my CU Biochemistry graduate school experience, in addition to my research program, was supporting the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Mentoring program as a committee leader and helping new and ongoing graduate students navigate their CU Biochemistry path.鈥
WHY I SELECTED CU BOULDER
My career hasn鈥檛 always been a straight path in academia. After getting my undergraduate degree, I听lived in South Korea for a year teaching English. During this time, I experienced a lot of personal听growth but ultimately realized I missed science. Afterwards, I worked in several different biotech听companies in the SF Bay Area. While I gained a lot of important skills, I realized I wanted to better contribute and guide our research goals. I felt the training听from a PhD program would better prepare me for a career in scientific research.听
I was excited about the research at CU 抖阴传媒在线, but what really sold me were the mountains and听outdoor activities, particularly snowboarding and hiking. 抖阴传媒在线鈥檚 a great place to live and I听felt the grad students I met during recruitment had a good work life balance.
Ahn Lab
PhD Candidate 2025: Biochemistry
AY24-25: P2P Mentoring Program, Committee Chair
2021-2023 + 2025: NIH Graduate Training Program in Signaling and Cellular RegulationB.S. Molecular & Cellular Biology, Johns Hopkins University
