Siera Talbott
Fifth-year Cancer Cell Biology doctoral student

Advisor: Yongyut Rojanasakul

Hometown: Pleasant Hill, California

Undergraduate degree: B.A. in Biology from Hunter
College, CUNY, New York

West Virginia is… a really special place.  Everyone here is
so nice.  I love the location too.  I’m outdoorsy so I really
enjoy the climate.

The best thing about grad studies at WVU is…
the interconnected programs.  The scientists in the
different programs at Health Sciences collaborate on
different projects all the time.  The students and faculty have
a lot of interaction.  The faculty are involved with students to the point where you begin to feel more like their peer than their student. 

My favorite memory at WVU is… meeting my husband Brian.  He’s a third-year medical student but we actually met off-campus at a cycling shop on my first day of the program.

My advice to future students is… to take advantage of WVU’s undifferentiated first year. That year exposes you to so many different aspects of research and helps you decide which field of study is best suited to your interests.

Hobbies: cycling, baking, eating, Scrabble and triathlons