Biochemistry and molecular biology

“Goucher is a great place to learn about biology, chemistry, and math because you get to build a close personal relationship with your professors and classmates.”

Edna Ferreira '18, an international student, traveled the world—living in Mozambique, Japan, India, and South Africa—before enrolling at Goucher.

Despite her worldly experience, it wasn't until she arrived at Goucher that she was fully able to pursue her passion for science.

"Goucher is a great place to learn about biology, chemistry, and math because you get to build a close personal relationship with your professors and your classmates," says Ferreira, a biochemistry and molecular biology major whose father is a Mozambican diplomat and whose mother is from Ethiopia.

For two summers, Ferreira participated in the Summer Science Research Program under the mentorship of Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Jenny Lenkowski. Together they worked on creating a transgenic fish line to characterize and study the cell cycle progression of Müller glial cells in the retinas of zebrafish. The upshot: to learn how human retina cells can be repaired to help people regain their sight.

"The zebrafish is a model organism," says Ferreira, who, before graduating, logged up to 10 hours a week in the lab in addition to her full load of courses. "What's interesting is that zebrafish can regenerate retina cells."

Since graduating, Ferreira began working in the Johns Hopkins department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology as a research technologist.

Working in a state-of-the-art lab with the latest equipment is critical to any student who aspires to a career in science. That's why Goucher has made the Science Research Center a priority.

"You can be restricted by your equipment," says Ferreira. "The new Science Research Center, with all of its new equipment, will help future students with their research."

The new addition also underscores Goucher's commitment to interdisciplinary learning, and it will provide students with the tools and research they need to excel as they pursue advanced studies or career options in related fields.

"Being shown that science matters will encourage more students to pursue research and careers in science," says Ferreira. "Having a new facility will do this."