Alex Marcoux ‘27 is engaging in experiments investigating genetic and epigenetic changes associated with suicidal behavior, bipolar disorder, and other psychiatric disorders with Dr. Marie Gaine in the University of Iowa College of Pharmacology.
Some of the research I will be helping with is included but not limited to: extracting DNA from whole blood samples of patients with schizophrenia...
Hometown: Port Edwards, Wisconsin
Major(s): Behavioral Neuroscience, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
I am a first-year student at Cornell College who moved to Iowa from a small town in central Wisconsin. I have 4 older brothers, an older sister, and a younger sister back home along with my cat, Vincent. In my spare time, I enjoy reading books, hiking, and listening to music. At Cornell, I play alto saxophone in the school’s symphonic band, tutor for many classes, and participate in a handful of clubs on campus.
With this internship, I hope to expand my knowledge of how laboratory research is conducted, how to analyze data, and how to optimize experiments. Additionally, I hope to make connections with others in and out of the lab to open new opportunities down the road. I’m extremely excited to be able to start my research career and learn more about the processes of conducting and reviewing experiments. Genetic and epigenetic changes associated with suicide and psychiatric disorders are similar to the type of research I would like to conduct in graduate school. I believe this will be a great opportunity to help me acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for my overall career goals and aspirations.
