Dr. Samantha Katner, Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Geology

Hometown

• Castleton, VT

Schools Attended

• St. Lawrence University
• University of Virginia
• Virginia Commonwealth University

Things we can talk about

Career paths, graduate school or post-baccalaureate options, how to apply to a job after undergraduate, how to apply to graduate school, pharmacy school, undergraduate research options, cancer research, and degree programs in the Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Geology department.

I am available for

• Email conversations
• Zoom calls
• Personal meetings on campus

Why I want to be a Maverick Firsts Advocate

I was a first-generation college student. Navigating undergraduate school was difficult for me and when I graduated, I was unsure of my next steps. Therefore, I worked as a research specialist for 3 years and then went on to graduate school to pursue my Ph.D. in Chemical Biology. Hence, not every career path needs to be a linear and focused one. It’s okay to not have your entire career path determined by the time you graduate undergraduate school. We at Maverick Firsts can help guide you through your undergraduate career and prepare you for your next steps.

Other items of interest

I have a research and lab web page that I maintain regularly:

• Katner Lab

Here you’ll find research projects, current lab members, experiments conducted in my lab, and student-lead presentations at national meetings.

I am the Pre-Pharmacy Club’s faculty advisor. If you are interested in applying to pharmacy school or becoming a pharmacist, let me know! The club is meant to connect pre-pharmacy students with each other and with resources such as: recruiters from pharmacy school, pharmacists, and current pharmacy students. Events held by the club help can students understand the application process, choosing the right school, life in pharmacy school, and a career as a pharmacist.