Kim, Chemical Biology, Stevens Alumna, Class of 2006

What comes after Stevens? For Kim Clarkin, it’s medical school. How did she prepare for it? “As a Stevens student, I spent two months as a Stevens Technogenesis Scholar in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. I focused on ethnobotany—the study of plants and the relationship with the native people around them—collecting plants, taking extracts, and studying them for bioactivity.” She says her experience gave her the perspective she
was looking for.

“It exposed me to research in the field, which is so different from what you’d think studying science is. It’s hands-on, applying what I’ve learned in classes. I was figuring out what chemicals in plants make them anti-cancer, antitumor. Some of the plants we studied are used as breast cancer drugs, and I worked with a physician who is a breast cancer specialist, who showed us how to run assays. I saw a glimpse of what my life will be like. I want that life!”

Kim is starting medical school this fall, and is looking forward to a career in pulmonology. “I’m extremely excited that the reality of medical school is so close! Stevens really helped me get there!”

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