SOPHIE YOUNT IS THE FIRST Honors College student to receive funding from the Emeriti Association’s Just in Time Fund. She is a sophomore from Canton, Georgia, majoring in biochemistry. The JIT funding made it possible for Sophie to take her very first trip on a plane to attend the 2017 Experimental Biology Conference in Chicago, where she presented a poster with her departmental co-author and faculty sponsor Dr. Huanbiao Mo, Chair of the Nutrition Department. Sophie chose to major in biochemistry because she is fascinated with the mechanisms and building blocks of everyday life. “Going into college, I knew I had an affinity for the sciences and that one day I would want to pursue a post-baccalaureate degree. For my undergraduate degree, I chose the best of both worlds: biochemistry.

By majoring in chemistry and concentrating in biology, I felt that I would be equipped for any career that I may choose later,” Sophie says. Sophie chose to attend Georgia State “because of the unparalleled opportunities offered to its undergraduate students. From the impeccable programs within the Honors College, to the plethora of academic clubs, the support and learning experiences offered at Georgia State are unrivaled for enhancing one’s undergraduate education.” Sophie believes that what distinguishes Georgia State from other universities are “the opportunities offered to undergraduates to conduct hands-on work in fields of interest.” Sophie notes that these opportunities have enhanced her application to graduate schools and helped narrow her focus on career options. At the conference, Sophie heard top research professionals from around the world speaking in-depth about cutting-edge studies. She emphasizes that she “never would have learned about these studies without this funding.” After having the opportunity to discuss her own research with professionals attending the conference, she feels “more confident that the work I’m participating in can impact many people in the future. After a long and hard semester, it was the most gratifying thing to see my hard work finally pay off.” Sophie says that she “cannot thank the Emeriti Association enough” for the opportunity to attend the conference, adding that “it has truly been one of her greatest college experiences.”

EmeriTies, Fall 2017 – Kim Clifford and Mary Whitehead