Christine is a fifth year in the Kiessling group and current co-president of WIC. She grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah and did her undergrad at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. As an undergrad, she played varsity soccer, majored in molecular and cellular biology, and grew interested in carbohydrates through her thesis research. After undergrad, Christine worked as a technician at the University of Washington for three years and built a love for exploring the outdoors. She then started her graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin, where she joined Prof. Laura Kiessling’s research group to follow her passion for carbohydrates. In the Kiessling Group, she studies the recognition of microbial glycans by human lectins. Christine moved to MIT with the Kiessling group in 2017, and has loved the new collaborations and new directions it has allowed for her research!
What are your favorite things about the Cambridge/Boston area?
I really like how bikeable Cambridge and Boston are. I love the local breweries and restaurants, and the nearby mountains and beaches!
What’s something that surprised you about life here?
The number of different backgrounds people in our program come from, be it cultural, geographical, research experience, or life experience.
Real Talk: What’s been your biggest challenge since coming to MIT?
Moving in the middle of grad school was a unique challenge that few can relate to. It was a big change and I had to adjust to the often intense atmosphere of MIT while also facing a decent level of imposter syndrome. However, I have found that many people face these challenges and they can be uniting.
Why did you join WIC?
I joined WIC to meet people, have more community, and be involved in the department initially. I became a co-president of WIC because I was excited to have more involvement in our events and behind the scenes interactions with our department leaders, while contributing to the continual evolution of our student group!
What’s your favorite WIC program or event?
I have enjoyed our collaborative events with other groups and departments: Our lunch with Women in Chemical Engineering on academic careers, the lunch with CADI on intersectionality, and the department-wide celebration of International Women’s Day.
What’s your go-to for self-care in quarantine?
I have been working on making a habit of a morning yoga practice and have taken a lot of baths!
Our series “Get to Know WIC” was inspired by MIT CADI, who did a similar series for their members. Thanks for the idea!