2019-Kaitlin Nguyen

Kaitlin Nguyen

Major: Biochemistry

Minor: Art

300 Word Statement

At Lafayette, I didn’t have to choose.

Coming to college, I knew I wanted to study Biochemistry. I could not think of anything more endlessly fascinating than the processes that construct life itself. In the Chemistry Department, I have published papers on my research, been exposed to more information than I could have ever imagined and learned from my professors and peers on a daily basis. Although I love science, it is not my only passion.

So, I declared an art minor, to learn more about a subject that has always brought me joy. My classes in art history and studio art have furthered my appreciation for the work of others, while challenging and developing my own methods of expression. This minor gave me the opportunity to understand humans in a way that only supplemented my knowledge of biological mechanisms. In addition, I have had the chance to play my flute in the Concert Band and Contemporary Music Ensemble and choreograph and perform in the Dance Company. These organizations have allowed me to not only present others’ work, but also create and shape my own.

I have connected with my community through food drives and fundraisers with my Alpha Gamma Delta sisters and the Pen Pal program, through which I have communicated with an absolutely inspiring local third grader. Hopefully, he and his classmates find college now a bit more accessible.

Faced with endless opportunities at Lafayette, I learned that I didn’t have to suppress parts of my identity in order to be successful. I can be a scientist, artist, dancer, musician, sorority member, and (officially, as of a few weeks ago) future physician. I can be me – all of me – and for this, I will forever be grateful.

Academic Activities/Awards – Total Years Involved

  • Excel Scholar and Independent Researcher (3.5)

I was given an incredible opportunity to do research I am passionate about, while also having a tangibly positive effect on the world. During the included summers, semesters, and winter interim, I developed over twenty methods for identifying fake or substandard pharmaceutical products using HPTLC (high-performance thin layer chromatography) and TLC. The TLC methods do not require complex instrumentation and are posted online with open access to be used in the field to ensure that people receive genuine pharmaceutical products.

  • Five Analytical Chemistry Papers Published and Poster at ACS Conference (3.5)

From my EXCEL and Independent research, I have had five papers published in scientific journals. My poster entitled “Development of Quantitative HPTLC-Densitometry Methods for the Analysis of Amiodarone HCl and Irbesartan Using a Model Approach for the Transfer of TLC Screening Methods” was presented at the 2019 American Chemical Society National Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

  • Dean’s List (3.5)

In the past seven semesters, I have been named to the Dean’s List.

  • P.T. Farinon Marquis and Mary Ell Appley Scholarships (4)

One female Marquis Scholar is awarded the additional “P.T. Farinon” distinction in each class year. The Mary Ell Appley Scholarship is for a Lafayette student interested in the practice of medicine.

  • General Chemistry TA (2)

As a Teaching Assistant, I facilitate learning by explaining laboratory experiments and related general chemistry topics at the start of lab periods. I supervise the experiments in the laboratory, offering assistance to students and ensuring compliance to lab safety protocol. On a weekly basis, I grade the students’ laboratory reports. The position has enhanced my ability to communicate scientific concepts, while ensuring that I retain a mastery of the basics. I aim to provide a positive experience for the students, so they may too develop an interest in the study of chemistry.

  • J. Hunt Wilson 1905 Prize in Analytical Chemistry (1)

Awarded to the senior in the chemistry department with “the highest ranking in courses and research in analytical chemistry.”

  • Rothkopf Scholar of Art (1)

The Rothkopf Scholar program provides annual funding for four art majors or minors to travel abroad to study art and architecture. I was selected for the honor of visiting London and the English countryside in 2017. Over eleven days, I had the opportunity to physically experience works of art I had previously only studied in the classroom, including churches, museums, galleries, and theatre productions. While on location, I gave verbal presentations on Christopher Wren’s St. Stephen Walbrook and Inigo Jones’ Banqueting House at Whitehall. I gained exposure to British culture, as well as to the expansive variety of cultures represented through pieces of art contained in museums.

  • 21st World Congress on Heart Disease (1)

In January 2016, data was collected at St. Luke’s Hospital, Bethlehem, PA, to evaluate the yield of comprehensive initial pre-participation physical evaluation (CIPPE) as mandated to reduce potential cardiac-related injury in young athletes. Screening identified potentially harmful cardiovascular conditions in a small minority. The resulting research abstract entitled “Yield of Sports Pre-participation Cardiovascular Screening in Middle and High School Students” was accepted for oral presentation at the 21st World Congress on Heart Disease in Boston, MA.

  • 2019 Interim trip “Journey to Rome” (1)

I thoroughly enjoyed the course I took over the January 2019 interim, which allowed me to study in Germany and Italy. From visiting the galleries filled with artistic masterpieces, meeting people whose lives differ greatly from my own, and viewing the destructive impact of WWII, I gained an invaluable understanding of humanity’s intricacies.

  • SEA-PHAGES Research (1)

The Science Education Alliance – Phage Hunters Advancing Genomic & Evolutionary Science is a year-long program for the isolation and study of a novel bacteriophage. The phage from my personal research project was one of the two chosen from those in the lab to be sent for genome sequencing. Phage information is published online at the phagesdb.org (Mycobacterium phage Olive), and a poster detailing discoveries was presented on campus.

Campus Services/Activities and Awards – Total Years Involved

  • Concert Band President and Principal Flautist (4)

As Principal Flautist, I am responsible for holding sectional rehearsals, developing and implementing strategies to improve musicianship of the flute section, and performing solos within selected repertoire. I have played the flute for fifteen years, and music occupies an integral role in my life. The principal position has allowed me to improve my own abilities while assisting my peers. Since elected President in August of 2016, I have acted as intermediary between student musicians and director, organized events to improve cohesiveness of the group, and managed various logistical aspects. I have worked diligently to create a positive and prosperous environment for the band.

  • Flautist in Contemporary Music Ensemble (2)

Member of an invitation-only ensemble that creates original pieces and performs works by various 20th and 21st century composers. This semester, we are composing a score to be performed live, with the reading of a student-written original verse novel.

  • Usher at the Williams Center for the Arts at Lafayette College (3)

As an usher, I work assorted musical, theatrical, and dance shows. My obligations include directing patrons to their seats, scanning tickets, distributing programs, preparing refreshments, and answering inquiries regarding the show and venue. Through this employment, I have had the opportunity to see the performances of and communicate with visiting artists, furthering my knowledge and appreciation of their individual art forms.

  • ACS at Lafayette (4)

Lafayette’s group of American Chemical Society members.

Community Service – Total Years Involved

  • Volunteer at Soup Kitchen and Stand Up Bethlehem (1)

As a volunteer at the soup kitchen, I prepare and serve meals to disadvantaged and homeless members of the local community. Stand Up Bethlehem is a bimonthly program that aims to provide those in need with necessary items such as socks, shoes, coats, clothes, and hygiene products. Haircuts, basic medical services, and veteran services are also provided. My role at these events is to help match the person with things that will fulfill his or her personal needs, giving me the opportunity to interact with people and learn their individual stories. My experiences have reminded me that neither tribulations or unfortunate circumstances diminish the importance of human connection and compassion.

  • Pen Pals Program (1)

I participated in the inaugural cohort of the “Pen Pals” program, in which Lafayette College students were paired with third graders from a local elementary school. My Pen Pal likes pugs and roller coasters, and his letters brighten my day.

  • POSP (1)

Before beginning my first year at Lafayette College, I was accepted to the Pre-Orientation Service Program (POSP). I acted as a children’s camp counselor for a group of ten third grade students from the Easton community, leading them through a week-long day camp including artistic, musical, team-building, and physical education activities.

  • Spring Garden Children’s Center Volunteer (1)

As a weekly volunteer at the Spring Garden Children’s Center in Easton, I supervised and interacted with the children.

  • Lafapalooza and Make a Difference Day (2)

Single day service projects have allowed me to aid the city of Easton by repairing holiday decorations, cleaning community gardens, and collecting/delivering holiday gifts for local families in need.

  • Alpha Gamma Delta Women’s Fraternity (3)

AGD has given me multiple opportunities to engage in meaningful projects that have had a positive impact on myself, the local community, and the greater public. Local community service events have included food drives and volunteering at soup kitchens. Additionally, we have raised money for the National Alliance on Mental Illness through the co-sponsored Mental Miles 5K run/walk and for the fight against hunger through our annual Kan Jam. Beyond philanthropic efforts, this organization has given me a group of supportive and inspirational women with whom I have shared my college experience.

Athletics Activity/Award – Total Years Involved

  • Dance Company – Tap Choreographer, Public Relations Chair, Safety Officer (4)

I have been a member and tap dance choreographer for four years and the Public Relations Chair for two years. As a choreographer, I create, rehearse and perform pieces for our dance showcases. My position of Public Relations Chair has required me to design posters and t-shirts using Adobe Photoshop, distribute advertisements of classes and showcases, manage social media, interview with the school communications division, and assist with performance logistics. These positions have allowed me to exercise and explore my own creativity, while pursuing my passion for dance.

Special Interest – Total Years Involved

  • Art and KaittPaints (4)

Blending my interests in nature and art, I create oil paintings of landscapes and living creatures in a primarily self-taught, photorealistic style. Painting exercises my patience and creativity, as capturing images on canvas is an extensive process of trial, error, and subsequent progression. Fashioning these depictions focuses attention on elements that may have been previously overlooked: the soft curves, intricate textures, bright highlights and subtle shadows. This has allowed for an unparalleled level of appreciation for the physical forms present in nature. Last year, I began a venture into selling both original paintings, prints of my work, and painted signs and canvases, satisfying a long-standing aspiration of mine. Social media increases exposure to my art, and sales have been made using an e-commerce website and in person at local art shows and festivals.

  • Physician Shadowing (4)

I have had the privilege to observe procedures, such as heart valve replacements, thyroid biopsies, a total knee arthroplasty, and defibrillator implantations. In these cases, I saw the treatment of diseased organs, using medical advancements that are technologically fascinating. These physical treatments, though remarkable, encompassed only a small portion of the healing ability I witnessed from these physicians. It was immediately apparent that the doctors aimed to treat the patient, not merely the disease. In routine office visits, pre/post operative consults, and urgent appointments, I witnessed the power of communication. The shadowing experiences have only affirmed my desire to enter the field of medicine.

  • Acceptance to Medical School

In the fall, I will begin my study of medicine.