Our March MCDB Alumni Spotlight is highlighting Andrea Keller! Dr. Keller is an Assistant Professor in the Biology & Chemistry Department at Asbury University. She graduated from MCDB in 2023.

We asked Dr. Keller some questions about her experience as an MCDB student, as well as her career since graduating from the program.

1. Can you briefly describe your current role and the path that led you there after graduating from the MCDB program?
   1. I am an assistant professor in the Biology & Chemistry Department at Asbury University, which is a liberal arts school in Wilmore, KY. My primary role is teaching various biology courses and labs, from intro level to upper division, for both majors and non-majors. A small portion of my job is devoted to personal research interests, and I also mentor students on their capstone research projects. Prior to graduating from MCDB, I had reached out to old connections from my current institution just to get in touch again, as I obtained my undergraduate degree from the same school. When I became aware of the job opening, I worked with my PI and committee to map out a timeline for graduation that enabled me to transition directly to this role.
2. Looking back, what part of the program best prepared you for your current role?
   1. Perhaps surprisingly, my experiences in some of the MCDB courses and seminars were very helpful in preparing for my current position. Every student had to learn to present well and write well through the seminars, grant writing courses, and scientific writing courses, which are pieces I use or think about daily as I’m prepping lectures or making curriculum decisions. In my first few semesters, I was often tweaking lecture presentations up until the last minute, and to have the confidence from giving so many talks (last minute or not!) and standing at so many posters made this aspect easy. I often think back to those core courses, too, and consider what kinds of activities helped me as a student understand a topic or technique better. I teach a research methods class as well, and even if my current institution does not have the same resources as a place like OSU, I still pull on all of my research experiences to teach how to get better at reading papers, how to plan experiments, and how to write or present clearly.
3. What is one memorable or favorite moment that you have from your time at OSU or in the MCDB program?
   1. It’s hard to pinpoint one favorite moment in the program, but I will say in general that one aspect I always appreciated about MCDB was the diversity of people across the program, labs, and seminars. I enjoyed meeting lots of different people and eating lots of diverse food at various holiday functions or events.
4. If you could go back to your first year in MCDB, what would you tell yourself?
   1. There is so much more reading and planning involved than you expect. At times it felt like most of the work was planning and only a small portion was actually running experiments. Take the time to really plan an experiment well.
5. Outside of work, what's something fun or interesting that you've done recently?
   1. I love to bake, and a friend gifted me some sourdough starter for Christmas. Buying a kitchen scale and measuring ingredients for the perfect bread is so satisfying – I enjoy feeling like a scientist at home too, just a little bit.
6. Is there anywhere online where students can learn more about your work or connect with you?
   1. I am on LinkedIn, otherwise through my Asbury University email/webpage.