Student Spotlight: Vi Pham

Vi's interest in microbiology came from her fascination with microorganisms and their impact on the human system on the individual and population level. 

On campus, Vi is an undergraduate research assistant in the Muller Lab in the Department of Microbiology, where she and a team investigate how viruses reshape the in-cell environment during infection. She is also involved as a peer mentor in the Commonwealth Honors College first-year residential halls, a peer tutor at the Learning Resource Center, and a teaching assistant for Pathogenic Bacteriology Lab! 

She loves being in the lab and has a large interest in pursuing a career involving infectious diseases. She says, "After graduating, I plan on working (either in the biotech industry or a clinical setting) to gain more experience and solidify my understanding of what I enjoy doing most." 

Vi's advice to students interested in majoring in microbiology to check out the department; "It's equipped with an amazing peer advising team who are here to share their experiences and keep you on the right track, as well as a super supportive program director, Heather Reed, to motivate you along the way!" 

She also shares that what she loves the most about being a student in the College of Natural Sciences is the abundance of resources, opportunities, and people available to help you succeed every step of the way. Vi expresses "Whether I needed career advice, academic support, or simply a peer to talk to, I've always felt supported as a College of Natural Sciences student, knowing that I'm not going through this journey alone."