Zurick accepts NIH research position
Ryan Zurick will take his love of lab research to the next level as he starts a full-time position as a postbaccalaureate researcher for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Baltimore, Maryland.
Post baccalaureate programs are opportunities for college graduates to work full-time with a scientist or principal investigator to learn more techniques and to further develop their skills as a researcher before attending graduate school.
Zurick says his time at Cornell helped him define his life plans. He originally thought he wanted to be a psychiatrist when he came to the Hilltop, but his experiences led him down another path.
“While taking my biology and chemistry courses and having such an immersive lab style in those classes, I realized that I really loved working in the lab. This led me to join Associate Professor of Biochemistry Catherine Volle’s lab to conduct research in combating antibiotic resistance. My research experience at Cornell helped me realize that I love discovery and that a career in research is the right choice for me.”
Volle says she remembers meeting Zurick as a sophomore in her cell and molecular biology course. She says his ability to analyze data, communicate his analysis, and make connections between his work and the data he found in the literature stood out to her.
“Ryan will be an asset to any lab he works in,” Volle said. “He is analytical, thoughtful, and creative, and well on his way to becoming a successful scientific researcher. I am excited to see his continued growth as he follows his passion for neurobiology.”
We asked Zurick a few questions before he graduates, and here’s what he said in his own words:
What is your major and what do you like about it?
Biochemistry and molecular biology. I love learning about how the world works around me on a molecular level.
What are your plans following Commencement?
I will be working as a postbaccalaureate researcher in Shelley Jackson’s lab at the NIH’s Baltimore campus! In Dr. Jackson’s lab, I will be developing methods and analysis in three possible categories: Immunoassay techniques, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and/or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Dr. Jackson’s lab mainly collaborates with other labs, developing methods or analyzing compounds in biological samples. For example, let’s say a lab is researching a compound that has the potential for relieving withdrawal symptoms from opioids and this lab is conducting an experiment where they need to analyze the amount of a compound that is present in the blood at different points in time after ingesting the compound (usually done with mice). Dr. Jackson’s lab will work with that lab to develop a method for them to accurately analyze the amount of the compound in the blood. Dr. Jackson’s lab has some of their own projects that they do themselves related to this idea of method development.
What are you most looking forward to after graduation?
I cannot wait to start conducting my own research. I need to get through graduate school and a postdoctoral fellowship first, which will be a long time from now, but I know it will all be very rewarding. In the future, I want to conduct research related to mental illnesses. It is an area that I have been interested in for most of my life, and I really want to contribute to understanding and caring for those struggling with mental health.
How did Cornell help prepare you for the future?
Cornell helped me by providing me with very immersive lab experiences in my biology and chemistry courses to build my basic lab/research skills and the opportunity to work in Catherine Volle’s lab to strengthen my research skills even further. Cornell also provided me with resources to strengthen and prepare my application materials for applying to postbaccalaureate programs. Shout out to Catherine Volle, my research mentor, for all the help she gave me in preparing my application materials. The block plan has also really prepared me for the real world. Having to complete all my courses within 18 days, especially my science courses, has really helped me develop my time management. Also, having to change schedules often has developed my adaptability, which is important for research because the research will take you wherever it goes, and you need to be prepared to switch gears when that happens.
What was your biggest achievement while at Cornell?
My biggest achievement at Cornell was probably just the overall success I’ve had in my courses. Coming to college, I did not expect to enjoy my science courses as much as I did, and that really helped motivate me to do the best that I could and gain the most from those courses. What means the most to me about that is the recognition I’ve received from both the school and my professors on my success. It feels really good to know that achievements like those do not go unnoticed here at Cornell. That idea motivates me even more to strive for success in the field I am going into.
What’s your favorite memory from your time at Cornell?
My favorite memory at Cornell was my trip to the Biophysical Society’s annual meeting in San Diego. I had the pleasure to go on this trip with Catherine Volle, Jonathan Azenon, and Kenny Lutz, where we attended and presented the research we did in Catherine’s lab at a national science conference. The experience was really cool because I got to see what a full-blown science conference is like, learn about a lot of cool research occurring around the country, and enjoy my time with the boys during the evenings in San Diego.
Were you involved in any activities or student orgs that had an important impact on your journey through college life?
The most impactful organization I have been a part of is my fraternity, Delta Phi Rho. Being a part of this fraternity has shown me what it is like to have true friendships. Throughout my whole life, I have constantly been gaining and losing friends and didn’t really hang out with the same group of people for a long period of time. However, being a part of the Delts has allowed me to find my people. I have had so much fun planning, running events, and just having a good time with all of my brothers. I know for sure that every single one of them has my back, and I truly believe that being a part of this group has allowed me to become a better person overall. I am so thankful for all of my brothers, and I am so sad to be leaving them very soon.
What will you miss the most about Cornell?
I will miss all of the people I have connected with here. I am going to miss the Delts for sure. I will also miss all of the faculty I have had the pleasure to connect with here at Cornell. Being that Cornell is such a small school, this has allowed me to form very personal relationships with my professors, which is something that I did not expect at all. However, I am very grateful for having the opportunity to connect with my professors at that level and that’s why I will miss them so much.
