"It was a really wonderful opportunity for me to come here and have exposure to so many different things." –Irene Li, MSU senior
Irene Li has a passion for exploring her curiosity. As a graduating senior at MSU she has earned her degree in genomics and molecular genetics, and interdisciplinary studies in social science.
Li has participated in undergraduate research in the chemical engineering and systems biology lab at MSU for the past three years, working with Dr. Christina Chan and her mentor, Aritro Nath.
Being from Canton, MI, Li knew she wanted to attend MSU because it was not too far from home. She also received an academic scholarship from the Alumni Distinguished Scholarship Competition and was accepted into the MSU Honors College.
Li is the selected student representative for the College of Natural Science and will deliver her commencement speech on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at the Breslin Center.
Entering MSU as a freshman, Li found an interest in genetics and social science.
"With the social science side, I wanted to have a perspective of how science fit into society as well as how it functions within cultures –kind of having a larger idea on how my future research would affect the world," Li said.
Her inspiration for her speech came from her experiences at MSU and from the people she met.
"It was a really wonderful opportunity for me to come here and have exposure to so many different things and one thing I value is the constant culture of discovery and constant learning," she said.
After graduation, Li plans to visit her cousins and grandparents in Taiwan for two months. When she returns, Li is moving to California to work towards her Ph.D. in cancer biology at Stanford University.
