BS Biology

When Danielle Marcone ’21 enrolled at Quinnipiac, she didn’t know which major she’d choose, but she knew it would involve a blend of health and sciences. Marcone eventually realized the best way to pursue both passions was with a bachelor’s degree in biology, which enabled her to keep her career path options open.

During her coursework, she enjoyed delving into topics such as disease ecology and vector-borne diseases. Her Infections of Leisure class with Lisa Cuchara, professor of biological sciences, allowed Marcone to combine health sciences with infectious disease, another area she’s passionate about.

“This class gave me the chance to explore diseases that may not be very common and understand the underlying risks,” Marcone said.

Marcone also mentioned Christian Eggers, professor of biomedical sciences, when discussing her favorite classes. She took microbiology and its lab course with Eggers.

In addition to her coursework and hands-on labs, Marcone served as a researcher at Western Connecticut State University. She spent three summers focusing on disease ecology, specifically the Backyard Integrated Tick Management Study. That experience positioned Marcone for graduate school and beyond. She’s currently pursuing a master of science in public health microbiology and emerging infectious diseases at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health.

“Quinnipiac gave me the resources to be a well-rounded student who is comfortable speaking in a crowd and not afraid to advocate for myself and my education,” Marcone said.

Thinking past graduate school, Marcone envisions a career in preventive disease ecology, citing her summers researching ticks as a major reason.

“I took a chance on something I was unfamiliar with — ticks and entomology — and found my true passion,” Marcone said. “I was able to discover the importance of prevention measures in the public health field, whether it be preventive medicine, vector control, or even disaster planning.”

Every time Sarah Marek ‘19 takes a pulse or takes a moment to comfort a patient, she moves a step closer to enrolling in a physician assistant program.

As a patient care associate at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Marek is working hard to log the 500 to 2,000 paid clinical hours typically required before someone can apply for a PA program.

Marek credits the development of her clinical skills — and bedside manner — to her time at Quinnipiac. They helped her secure her position at Brigham and Women’s, where she continues to develop those techniques every day.

“My experiences allowed me to practice the skills I hope to master as a health care professional in different ways,” she said.

As a double major in biology and chemistry, Marek was a regular in the lab and took advantage of multiple research opportunities. Chief among these was the eight-week QUIP-RS program, where she worked alongside biology professor Courtney McGinnis assessing the health of two Connecticut rivers and the effects of contaminated water on fish.

“Overcoming an obstacle in the lab can be like figuring out why a patient is having a poor response to a treatment,” Marek explained.

Marek likens working with concerned patients to helping overwhelmed students grasp difficult subject matter. She helped her classmates as an organic chemistry peer fellow and later as a peer facilitator for QSTEP, a program designed to enhance retention for students in STEM fields.

She also taught science to elementary school students in Leon, Nicaragua, during a STEM/Global Solidarity trip in 2017.

“I enjoy working with people on an intimate level, and I definitely feel prepared for my next steps,” Marek said.

The garden contains eight themed beds hosting 200 varieties of native plants. Plants were chosen to bloom in succession for year-round growth, said Assistant Professor of Biology Sarah Lawson.

Preparation for the garden started last fall. Cardboard and mulch were layered to smother grass in the selected area, located outside the Albert Schweitzer Institute. Planting began in April. The first completed bed is a rainbow theme, including scarlet bee balm and yellow poppies, she said.

Riya Miller ’23, MS ’24, is taking advantage of the new garden for her QUIP-RS, an 8-week research project spanning the summer months. She designed her project to study the social hierarchy of the small carpenter bee, she said.

Ultimately, the pollinator bed will act as a blueprint for future sustainable planting around the Mount Carmel Campus, said Lawson.

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