Azia McKenzie ’23: Excited about the endless opportunities that the biomedical research field offers

Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Biology

Hometown: Nassau, Bahamas

Best part of your experience as a student at Caldwell University?
It has broken me out of my shell. I’m not as shy as I was when I was a freshman. Through being an active member on campus I learned a lot of great skills that help me to be an effective leader.

What’s next?
I’m going on to [pursue] my Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology on a full scholarship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and I’m really excited about it.

What is exciting to you about the field you have chosen?
I’m excited about the endless opportunities that biomedical research has and to learn more about the body’s immune responses to different pathogens.

How has Caldwell prepared you for this next step?
I am part of Dr. [Marjorie] Squires’s research class; she helped me a lot throughout the application process for graduate school. I’m part of the STEM Advance program as a lab teacher’s assistant and a supplemental instructor leader. It helped me learn my passion for teaching. After graduate school, I’d like to work in academia and in the professional field. 

I received funding from the Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey (ICUNJ) to conduct independent research on “The Effect of Papaya Seed and Pulp on Tongue Cancer Cells” and presented it at the ICUNJ Undergraduate Research Symposium at the Liberty Science Center. I was most proud of myself for being able to understand the questions that I received, think on my feet and be able to give well-thought-out answers to them. I was able to stand my own against professionals in my field that had far more knowledge than I did, and received a lot of good feedback on how to continue my research in the future.

(*The STEM Advance Project is funded by a grant from the Department of Education’s Hispanic-Serving Institution STEM and Articulation Program.)

Favorite spot on Caldwell’s campus?
The Newman Center courtyard.

Other Caldwell highlights?
I work in the Admissions Office as a student ambassador, holding the scheduling lead position, and I am very grateful that I came here. I am so happy to go on to my next step, and I would love to give back to Caldwell when I am able!