Amanda Cowfer (she/her/hers) is a 2nd year chemical biology graduate student and a member of the CADI board. She grew up in Manhattan, IL and came to MIT in 2018 after receiving her bachelor’s degree from University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign. Amanda’s research in Professor Brad Pentelute’s group focuses on leveraging flow-based chemistry to rapidly produce polypeptide sequences of over 150 amino acids via solid-phase peptide synthesis for biophysical and biochemical characterization with applications in the development of next-generation therapeutics.
We sat down with Amanda over Zoom this week and asked her a few questions about her choice to do chemical biology, her experience in the chemistry department, and why CADI has been so important to her.
Why did you want to get a graduate degree?
I knew that I wanted to have lot of independent scientific thought in my future, and getting a PhD is really the only way to do that. It’s the next step in my scientific career.
Why did you choose chemical biology? The Pentelute Lab in particular?
I started out as a premed (like a lot of us, I think), and then I really ended up enjoying my freshman year chemistry courses. I did research in a fully synthetic organic lab in undergrad, but I was always more drawn to the biological testing going on in the other subgroups. When I got to MIT, I joined Brad’s group because peptide chemistry leverages a lot of synthetic chemistry to answer interesting biological questions. I really like translational science with a clear end goal or real-life application, rather than molecules for molecules’ sake.
Why did you decide to come to MIT?
I did the DOW-MIT ACCESS program, which brings underrepresented minority students to MIT for a weekend to learn about graduate education. The research was really interesting, and I felt like I could actually fit in here. It also felt like MIT had the most options for me – hardcore synthetic chemistry, catalysis, and especially a really wide range of chemical biology labs. MIT as a whole may have some issues, but the chemical biology department is a great place.
What’s on your MIT bucket list?
I really want to get my pirate’s license (just a few fencing, shooting, and sailing classes away!).
What’s your favorite part of Cambridge?
I love exploring – the Cambridge architecture changes a lot depending on which part of the city you’re in, and I really enjoy looking around and seeing what’s there. I have a dog, so of course I love the Cambridge parks, and during the summer the Boston Common and the esplanade by the river are great.
What’s been your biggest challenge since coming to MIT?
It’s not necessarily since coming here, but the biggest challenge for me was coming up here with an ESA (emotional support animal). Getting pet-friendly housing in a new city and dealing with moving were really challenging. I didn’t reach out for departmental support, since I wasn’t sure who to approach. I would encourage anyone else in this situation to reach out to the chemical education department (or me!) because they’re actually really helpful for this sort of thing (I wish I had done that during my move).
What part of the chemistry department are you most proud of?
I’m really proud of our chemical education department and our department head. I’ve been working on the graduate mental health campaign, and the department leaders here really care, want to do better, and want to push the department to do better. Every department has their issues, but I’m proud that ours is actively trying to do better.
Why is CADI important to you? How has it impacted your life?
I think CADI is important because there are a lot of organizations that can be welcoming to some people, but a lot of folks can be lost in the weeds. CADI gathers everyone up and fills up a hole that was in the chemistry department. I think we complement the other organizations (like WIC and ChemREFs) well, and there are a lot of people who involved in two or three.
It’s great being a part of CADI, there are a lot of people I really care about in it, and we help each other accomplish great things for the department (especially considering how young the organization is).
What other groups are you involved in at MIT?
I’ve been active in the Graduate Students for a Healthy MIT campaign. It’s really important for both the students and the faculty and staff to acknowledge the stress and pressure students can be under. I’d like to encourage a healthy balance in our lives: it’s important to have a hobby or something (I have a dog, which really helps) coming in to graduate school, so you don’t feel lost when things get tough.
What are you doing to stay sane in quarantine?
I’ve been trying to have some level of schedule, spend a good amount of time doing desk work, and walk my dog Stella 7-8 miles every day. It’s been a great time to hang out with my partner and check in on all of my friends. I’m starting up painting, working on coding skills, playing some video games, and working out at home.
Have questions/want more CADI?
Please email the CADI board with any questions!