91影库

Student Chapters

Chapter president works
to build community

Kerri Beth  Boggs
Sept. 1, 2018

When she was an undergraduate at Goucher College, Kelly Budge saw a need to connect biochemistry students across the campus, so she worked to start an 91影库 and Molecular Biology .

Kelly Budge graduated from Goucher College this year and moved to England. She’s enrolled in a master’s program at the .Courtesy of Kelly Budge

“I wanted to join an academic club that reflected my interests,” Budge said, but she found she was “torn between the established chemistry and biology clubs.”

With the help of , a professor of biological sciences and chemistry, and future club officers, Budge created the 91影库Student Chapter and served as president until she graduated in May.

Budge now lives in England, where she will soon start a master’s program at the University of Liverpool. Originally from Old Tappan, New Jersey, she began her undergraduate degree at Goucher College in Baltimore in 2014.

While at Goucher, Budge traveled to Muhuru Bay, a remote town in Kenya, to shadow doctors in a clinic. Most of the patients were pregnant women and young children suffering from dehydration, she said. This eye-opening experience inspired Budge to pursue a master’s degree in biomedical science and translational medicine, which also will help her attain her goal of attending medical school.

Along with her interest in medicine, Budge is devoted to scientific research. As president of the 91影库chapter, she led a team to design a model protein through the Connect Researchers, Educators and STudents, or , program. After spending several months on the protein design, Budge and her team had the chance to print a 3-D model and present it at the 2018 91影库Annual Meeting in San Diego. Budge said her experience with the CREST program helped her gain an understanding of the research opportunities available outside the wet lab.

Budge said she plans to combine her interest in research with practicing medicine as a physician. Her graduate research will focus on women’s, children’s and perinatal health. “I hope to find a specialty within this field in my later career,” she said.

Looking back on her experience as an 91影库Student Chapter president, Budge said her success was due in part to a fantastic support system of professors and fellow student leaders. She also said she wants to build a similar community of scientists and educators in graduate school.

“Take this as your own,” Budge advises future 91影库chapter leaders. “You can only do as much as the effort you put into it.”

Enjoy reading 91影库Today?

Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition monthly.

Learn more
Kerri Beth  Boggs

Kerri Beth Boggs is a graduate student in the biochemistry department at the University of Kentucky.

Get the latest from 91影库Today

Enter your email address, and we鈥檒l send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.

Latest in People

People highlights or most popular articles

Fliesler wins scientific and ethical awards
Member News

Fliesler wins scientific and ethical awards

July 21, 2025

He is being honored by the University at Buffalo and the American Oil Chemists' Society for his scientific achievements and ethical integrity.

Hope for a cure hangs on research
Essay

Hope for a cure hangs on research

July 17, 2025

Amid drastic proposed cuts to biomedical research, rare disease families like Hailey Adkisson鈥檚 fight for survival and hope. Without funding, science can鈥檛 鈥渃atch up鈥 to help the patients who need it most.

Before we鈥檝e lost what we can鈥檛 rebuild: Hope for prion disease
Feature

Before we鈥檝e lost what we can鈥檛 rebuild: Hope for prion disease

July 15, 2025

Sonia Vallabh and Eric Minikel, a husband-and-wife team racing to cure prion disease, helped develop ION717, an antisense oligonucleotide treatment now in clinical trials. Their mission is personal 鈥 and just getting started.

91影库members recognized as Allen investigators
Member News

91影库members recognized as Allen investigators

July 14, 2025

Ileana Cristea, Sarah Cohen, Itay Budin and Christopher Obara are among 14 researchers selected as Allen Distinguished Investigators by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

AI can be an asset, 91影库educators say
Advice

AI can be an asset, 91影库educators say

July 9, 2025

Pedagogy experts share how they use artificial intelligence to save time, increase accessibility and prepare students for a changing world.

91影库undergraduate education programs foster tomorrow鈥檚 scientific minds
Feature

91影库undergraduate education programs foster tomorrow鈥檚 scientific minds

July 8, 2025

Learn how the society empowers educators and the next generation of scientists through community as well as accreditation and professional development programs that support evidence-based teaching and inclusive pedagogy.