On the CMDB program:

The CMDB program equips you with crucial skills to be a modern-day scientist. The CMDB core curriculum uniquely includes a quantitative biology “bootcamp” and weekly computational sessions that teach the coding skills to analyze scientific data at the genomic level.

Most graduate programs require a couple of short rotations, but I like the CMDB rotation schedule of four  eight-week rotations for couple reasons. First, they exposed me to new research areas, new scientific models, and different lab cultures so that I could not only build new skills but also better understand my scientific preferences. Second, I was able to generate meaningful data on a project within eight weeks, allowing me to determine if a lab was not only a cultural fit but also a scientific one.

On Baltimore:

Initially, I had heard the usual jokes about Baltimore and was skeptical of living here. Then, by the end of year one, my skepticism weakened into impartiality. Then, by the end of year two, Baltimore became one of my favorite cities. It has character! I see it in the joyful street art adorning buildings and bridges. Baltimoreans care about who you are as a person not about your job title or status. The eclectic neighborhoods patterning Baltimore provide a rich diversity that characterize the city. Overall, Baltimore is a vibrant international metropolis with robust arts, culture, and entertainment and has a deep, inner beauty to it.

On my lab:

I have met some of the most intelligent, curious, and scientifically diverse people in my lab. My discussions with them, whether at lab meetings or just informally in the lab, introduce novel ways to conceptualize and attack my scientific question in a way that I was not previously considering.