I am a research assistant professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at UIHC who has a primary research focus on the study of iron metabolic functions in cancer progression and therapy responses. I am a first-generation college student originally from Youngstown, OH. I received a Bachelor's of Science degree in Physics from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA; a Master's of Science degree in Physics from Cleveland State University in Cleveland, OH; and a Ph.D. in Free Radical and Radiation Biology from the University of Iowa. As a first-generation student from a low-income region, I have had first-hand experience with the challenges associated with navigating the difficult waters associated with academia, particularly in the realm of graduate studies and the transition(s) between fields of study. I understand the difficulties associated with the pursuit of higher education, such as the pursuit of the pursuit of research opportunities and CV building and am passionate about passing along the lessons learned from my own personal experiences to the next generation of students.