From hockey star to cancer researcher: one Auburn student’s journey
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Growing up playing in a prestigious Triple-A hockey league, Annaleisa would’ve never imagined that one day she’d trade in the hockey stick for a microscope.
Read on to find out how she landed a cancer research internship in Dallas, plus where she plans to go next in her career.
Watch this impressive student’s story 👇
Meet Annaleisa
Originally from a family of hardcore Florida Gators, Annaleisa could’ve heard a pin drop when she told her parents she wanted to attend Auburn.
Spoiler alert: Now, they’ve turned into even bigger Auburn fans than Gator fans.
So, what drove Annaleisa to choose a different shade of orange and blue?
Of course, you might think it was Auburn’s powerlifting team, which she competed on for a couple of years, or the Applied Biotechnology program that would bring her the opportunity to conduct cancer research.
Above all, it was Auburn’s creed. When Annaleisa came across it, she read every word, profoundly resonating with the university’s commitment to honesty, integrity and freedom.
She knew she had to visit the school and schedule a preview day. Stepping foot on campus sealed the deal for her—it was a place where “everyone actually abided by the creed.”
Discovering the Applied Biotechnology program
During preview day, she decided to look into the programs in Auburn’s College of Agriculture. Growing up around farms in Tennessee, she always thought it would be interesting to work in agriculture but didn’t know if it would align with her personal interests.
One thing she knew she had always loved was science, especially chemistry (when she was little, she even asked her parents for a chemistry set for Christmas!)
“While I was at preview day, I learned more about Applied Biotechnology, which I never even knew was a major before then.
After learning more, I decided to go for it.
It was the best thing that I could have done. Through the Applied Biotechnology program, I’m getting a very well-rounded perspective on medicine and pharmaceuticals—perhaps even better than what I would’ve gotten through a pre-med track.”
Annaleisa Matzirakis
She’s starting her senior year this semester, and here are a few things she’s loved about the program:
- Professors who go above + beyond—they’re always available to meet during office hours, respond to a quick email or write a graduate school reference letter
- Top-notch advisors—they not only offer excellent academic advice but also check in on the students in a holistic manner
- Hands-on learning—like a fun mosquito lab with Dr. Beckman!
Landing a summer job doing cancer research
This summer, Annaleisa’s experience in Auburn’s Applied Biotechnology program positioned her to conduct cancer research at Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.
On a daily basis, she performed expression tests on proteins to observe mutations in the cells. This led to important takeaways, like learning that NADK (enzymes that can reduce the power of NADPH, which can cause cancer cell growth and metastasis) is crucial for melanoma cells to proliferate.
After graduating, Annaleisa currently plans to attend medical school and eventually join the army and go to the Uniformed Services University.
Check out the Applied Biotechnology program in Auburn’s College of Agriculture
If you’re looking for a hands-on learning opportunity to set you up for success in the job market, check out the Applied Biotechnology program.
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