With a diverse background in science from Berry College, Amanda Merrilles is preparing for medical school. What will set her application apart? Extensive research and grant writing.
On visiting Berry, Amanda was blown away by her campus tour. It included an opportunity to meet the college president and a department chair in the sciences. “I felt like Berry was serious about helping me grow and succeed. They saw my potential right away,” she remembers.
Stepping up skills in research and grant writing
She took Introduction to Scientific Research and was hooked.
“This class got my feet wet,” says Amanda. “Associate Professor of Chemistry Mark Turlington had us practice writing research grants. I wrote one and was stunned when I received a grant.”
She studied parasitic plants, specifically how Triphysaria versicolor uses the KAI2 gene, which helps detect signals from nearby host plants where it can successfully attach and survive.
“Participating in research early in my college experience allowed me to find my voice and learn how to use it,” Amanda notes.
She added chemistry and One Health minors to her biology major, gaining a new perspective on medicine and science.
“Taking One Health classes helped me gain a deeper understanding of how the world around me is connected,” Amanda explains. “I see a problem and have a clearer understanding of who it affects and who the stakeholders are in a situation.”
Opportunities through study abroad and campus work
Amanda also studied abroad in Paris and at La Selva Biological Research Station in Costa Rica. “I never thought I’d build and set an animal trap or go night hiking, looking for snakes,” Amanda says. “I'm so grateful for the ways these trips stretched me.”
Beyond her involvement in the sciences, Amanda worked for the technical support desk at Berry. Though she started out with little computer experience, she rose to student supervisor. Training others and tracking their growth are skills she’ll apply as a physician running a clinic.
Amanda encourages students excited about science to connect with professors.
“Whether it's talking to them about their research or asking questions about course material, building relationships is crucial to success in college life,” she says.
