Name

Lauren Beach

School

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Degree Program

Fourth year student in joint degree program for Law, Health and the Life Sciences: PhD in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and Genetics; JD with a concentration in Health Law

Previous Degrees

Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and Policy from Michigan State University, 2007; Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from Michigan State University, 2007

Dissertation Topic

An investigation of TRIM37’s ability to restrict the replication of HIV

Research Interests

Retrovirology; the interaction between human proteins and viral infections; HIV treatment and prevention; FDA laws; science, law and policy

Advisor

Louis Mansky

Advisor’s Research Focus

Retrovirology

Hobbies

Volunteering at HIV- and LGBT-related organizations

Graduate School – Application Process

How did you select your graduate school and program?

I chose to attend University of Minnesota, Twin Cities because it offered a unique joint program that allowed me to simultaneously earn my JD and PhD in molecular, cellular and developmental biology and genetics. As an undergrad at Michigan State University, I decided I wanted to get my law degree and PhD at the same time, and the University of Minnesota was the only school in the country that enabled me to do this. So I didn’t apply anywhere else.

What did you do to prepare yourself for graduate school?

To prepare for graduate school, I gained experience in the areas of study that I was interested in pursuing. I tried to gain a background that supported my future goals of being the head of a large government agency. For example, I completed an internship at the Geneva headquarters for the World Health Organization focusing on preventing HIV transmission between mothers and children in sub-Saharan Africa. I also worked in 3 separate labs during my undergraduate studies to develop my research skills, and I ran several student organizations to develop my leadership skills.

Did your application requirements include standardized test scores?

Yes, my application required GRE scores for my PhD program and LSAT scores for the law program. My PhD program also strongly suggested that students take the subject test in biology, so I took that too. In order to prepare, I worked through a study book for the GRE and the GRE subject tests and took a Kaplan preparatory course for the LSAT.

To be eligible for admission, I needed to score between 163 and 167 on my LSAT. In addition, the PhD program at University of Minnesota required that students earn a score above the 60th percentile on their GRE to be considered for admission.

What kind of information did you include in your personal statement?

In my personal statement, I discussed how my past experience relates to my future career goals in order to demonstrate that I had thought critically about the decisions I had made. More specifically, I discussed how I purposely sought out volunteer and research opportunities that would help develop my skills and knowledge in government, science and law.

How did you choose faculty to approach for letters of recommendation?

For my PhD program, I wanted to secure letters of recommendation from faculty members that knew my research abilities. As a result, I chose the 3 research advisors I had during my undergraduate studies at Michigan State University. For law school, I picked people who had seen my leadership abilities and who were familiar with my extracurricular and professional background.

What types of questions were asked in your admissions interview?

The admissions interview at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities was informal. I was asked to visit the school for the weekend and met with 3 faculty members who discussed their research interests with me. They didn’t really ask me many questions relating to my research background.I got the feeling that they were more interested in seeing if I had the ability to communicate and interact socially.

Do you have any other tips for a student who is considering applying to graduate school in molecular, cellular and developmental biology and genetics?

I would tell a student who is considering applying to graduate school in molecular, cellular and developmental biology and genetics to explore different faculty members’ webpages to find out more about their research. If a student is interested in working in a particular professor’s lab, I highly recommend that they contact the professor to see if the professor is open and able to take on new students in his or her lab.

Similarly, I would encourage students to check out the publication records of the faculty members with whom they are considering working. This will give students a better idea about the type of research that is being conducted in that professor’s lab.

Graduate School – The Program

How long is your program and how is the curriculum distributed?

Because I am enrolled in University of Minnesota’s joint degree program in law, health and the life sciences, I take classes in the law school and in the molecular, cellular and developmental biology and genetics department. My goal is to graduate in 6 years with both degrees.

The single biggest requirement for the coursework in my joint program is the law school component. Students need to complete 88 credits in order to graduate with a law degree. Typically, full-time law students complete these 88 credits over the course of 3 years. As a joint degree student, however, my goal is to complete my law degree in 4 and a half years.

During the first year, I completed the majority of the coursework for my PhD program. I started law school in the second year in my joint degree program, during which I was required to follow a strict curriculum composed entirely of required classes except for 1 elective. I was not allowed to work in the lab. In my third year, I went back into the lab and again began work on my PhD.

During my third year of the program, I started taking law school and PhD classes simultaneously, and also worked at the lab full time. In addition, I completed my mandatory writing requirements for law school by participating in a moot court. At the end of my third year, I took my preliminary exams for my PhD program and became a PhD candidate.

In my fourth and fifth years, I will take law school classes and work in the lab. I will graduate from law school in my fifth year and hopefully complete my PhD within a year or two afterward, though it could take longer than that to write my dissertation.

What is the focus of your dissertation research?

My dissertation research focuses on determining how the human protein TRIM37 disrupts the replication of HIV. I picked my dissertation topic during the first year of my PhD program. After completing my lab rotation, I was able to select the lab I wanted to join. Afterward, the professor who leads my lab gave me a list of projects he had received funding for, and I was able to choose my dissertation topic from these.

Can you describe the process of researching for and writing your dissertation?

I am constantly researching and writing my dissertation. Students are required to publish several papers throughout the course of the program. These published papers will compose the bulk of my dissertation. In other words, I will incorporate my previous publications into different chapters of my dissertation. By the end of my program, I should have assembled a full book. Overall, the entire writing process is very flexible as long as I am meeting my goals to publish papers.

What role does your advisor play in your education?

I chose my advisor based on his compatible research interests. I am interested in HIV research and he headed an HIV lab, so I knew I wanted to work with him from the beginning. After my lab rotations, I approached him to ask to join his lab.

My advisor is a very important part of my education. I check in with him weekly to talk about my research and the data I have collected. He also evaluates me each year on my progress in the program.

Does your doctoral program require comprehensive exams prior to graduation?

Yes, my doctoral program requires qualifying exams during the second year of the program. These entail taking a written exam as well as an oral exam before a committee of 5 to 6 people. The oral exam lasts for 2 to 4 hours and entails fielding questions on all class materials.

Graduate School – Paying for It

How much does your PhD program cost?

My PhD program costs me nothing, except for a $200 student service fee for the first 2 years.

How are you funding your education?

I am funding my education through scholarships and my research assistantship. In exchange for working at least 40 hours per week in the lab, I get my tuition waived and receive a $25,000 stipend.

Graduate School – Living Life

What are the time commitments for a PhD in molecular, cellular and developmental biology and genetics?

The time commitments for my dual program are intense. I spend about 40 to 50 hours per week doing research. I am usually in the lab 7 days a week. I also spend about 10 hours per week at home doing administrative tasks such as writing e-mails. Overall, I would say I easily work 65 hours every week.

How has graduate school affected your personal life?

While graduate school has affected my personal life, I don’t feel guilty about it because my education and research are important to me. Graduate school is a huge time commitment and there is no way around it. I have managed to maintain strong relationships with my romantic partner, friends back home, and family. Additionally, I have created large friendship circles from my time in both graduate and law school. I am also friends with many of my coworkers in the lab. Additionally, I have strong networks of contacts I have developed through my non-profit and student organizing activities.

Graduate School – After Graduation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years, I hope to be working as the head of a department in a government agency. I am also interested in becoming a partner in a law firm.

Graduate School - Advice

What insights can you offer a student who is interested in pursuing a PhD in molecular, cellular and developmental biology and genetics?

I would advise a student interested in pursuing a PhD to consider what their daily life will be like as a graduate student. They should consider the fact that they will spend most of their time in the lab researching and interacting with their colleagues.

I would also encourage students to consider University of Minnesota’s joint degree program in law, health and the life sciences. The combination of law and science is particularly sought-after in the job market.