Let’s put all of CUNY, New York State, and the nation on notice: Baruch students excel in expected and unexpected spheres. Excellence in the sciences offers a perfect example of Baruch’s strengths in areas beyond core business fields, for which the College is justifiably famous.
In May 2013, Irina Mironova (’13) (left) and Christopher Lopez (’12) (right) made news as winners of Jonas E. Salk Scholarships. Salk Scholarships, which were created by the City of New York in 1955 to honor the City College graduate who developed the first anti-polio vaccine, are awarded annually to eight CUNY graduates whose early accomplishments predict a career of significant contributions to medical research.
Mironova will be taking her Salk Scholarship to the Hershey College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, where she plans to conduct medical research in human physiology and biochemistry. The May 2013 graduate, who majored in biology and minored in Spanish, came to Baruch College to study business. Those plans changed early on after completing her first science class. “I switched my major to biology and joined the small but incredibly welcoming and supportive science community at Baruch,” Mironova said. “Because of the small class sizes, I developed close ties with all of my professors, all of whom reinforced my desire to study science and medicine.” Mironova was born and raised in Russia and immigrated to the U.S. eight years ago.
From Great Neck, Long Island, Christopher Lopez pursued an unusual double major: biology/chemistry and English literature. His senior honor thesis, titled “Medicine and Disease as Metaphors in Shakespeare,” not only combined his academic interests but earned him shared first-place honors for the 2012 Kanner Award for outstanding thesis. His thesis also became the centerpiece of his submission for the Salk Scholarship. Lopez gave credit and thanks to Baruch English Professor Paula Berggren and Natural Science Professors Emil Gernert, Ramzi Khuri, and John Wahlert, all of whom helped him develop a passion for scientific research alongside his interest in literature. “I’m confident that I will be a far better physician and problem-solver thanks to what I’ve learned [double majoring in] English literature and biology/chemistry,” he said. In August Lopez begins advanced studies at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Since graduating from Baruch last year, Lopez has been working as an adjunct biology-lab instructor and tutoring students for the MCAT, the standardized test required for entrance to medical school.
Salk Scholarship winners receive a total of $8,000 ($2,000 per year for four-year medical schools) to help defray the expenses of study for the MD, PhD, or DSc in biomedical sciences or the DO degree.
For a complete roundup of Student Achievement in 2013
Individual and Team Recognition, Service Learning, Prestigious Internships, National Conference Honors, International Graduate-Level Competition Wins . . . and More