Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/77272
REBECCA Ever since she stepped into a laboratory to study how soil bacteria geneti- cally engineer plants, biology major Rebecca Tweedell has been seeing research in a new light. After interning at a Cargill corn mill, she headed to Allergan, where she researched dry eye disease, an autoimmune disorder. "Each experience taught me new skills that have contributed to my career preparation," says Tweedell, who now works in Prof. Andrew Mesecar's lab. Her next step is a doctorate in microbiology or pathology. Afghanistan native and lifelong Tippecanoe County resident Silai Mirzoy knows firsthand how socioeco- nomic status and politics influence access to both food and healthcare, and, ultimately, disease risk. As an intern with Profs. Sophie Lelièvre and Ellen Gruenbaum of the International Breast Cancer and Nutrition project, she's examining the factors that influ- ence what women eat. "I want to help women and children stay healthy regardless of socioeconomic status or culture, begin medical school this fall. " says Mirzoy, who will MILAD Summer 2012 9 SILAI