Kristie Shirley
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Graduation year: 2020
Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL
Currently living in: Seattle, WA
Current occupation: Research Associate II at Outpace Bio (CAR-T Cell Therapy Startup)
What was your experience at CC like as an Molecular Biology major?
The Molecular Biology major at CC introduced me to many of the opportunities that got me to where I am today. I was able to interface with mentors that sought out opportunities for me and ensured that I was prepared for the rigor of intensive research as well as the culture of academia.
Why were you interested in focusing on Molecular Biology as your major?
I sought out a Molecular Biology degree because to me, there is nothing more interesting than the very foundations of life and I get the added bonus of being able to work in a field that is actively finding ways to fight cancer.
How are you using your major in your post-CC life?
I work at a CAR-T cell therapy startup and do most of their molecular cloning. I operate upstream of a lot of the technologies so I get to see and touch most of the exciting projects that the company takes on. Also, coming from a unique environment like CC definitely helped me ease into life at a startup where there are constantly adapting needs and a necessity to think outside of the box.