I am a first-year Ph.D. student at the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Biological and Biomedical Science program in the Molecular Cell Biology, Genetics and Development track. Prior to Yale, I did my undergraduate studies at The George Washington University in DC where I was a cell and molecular biology major. During my undergraduate years, I worked in a cancer biology lab, studying prostatic diseases such as prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia in genetically engineered mouse models. During the pandemic years, I also had the opportunity to work in a plant pathology lab at Cornell AgriTech, where I studied the fungicide efficacy on grapevine diseases in Chardonnay. Being around grad students while I was involved in research was really beneficial to me as it gave me a candid and realistic look into what the experience entails, so if you’re considering grad school after undergrad I hope to serve as a useful resource! I am from lovely upstate New York and spent most of my childhood growing up in Beijing. Outside of academics, I played field hockey, love to paint and travel, enjoy exploring new restaurants, cafes, museums in New Haven, and spending time outdoors. I am really looking forward to being a part of the Branford community and getting to know you guys! Always down to chat about grad school, getting involved in research, or literally anything else (I love to chat). Please feel free to reach out anytime (peri.wivell@yale.edu), I’m happy to listen and give advice on any and all topics!