UM鈥檚 Latest Goldwater Scholar Plans to Pursue Ph.D. in Drug Design
By Skylar Rispens, UM News Service
MISSOULA – 猎奇重口 biochemistry student Lydia Garrick always had a natural interest and aptitude for science. As a child, her parents signed her up for summer camps with spectrUM – a hands-on science center for children and families. As she progressed through school, she wanted to learn more and was drawn to advanced science courses.
Garrick’s passion for science set the stage for her to excel as a student and undergraduate researcher at UM and eventually paved her way to being named a recipient of the . The prestigious scholarship program recognizes scientific, mathematic and research talent among college sophomores and juniors in the United States who want to pursue medical research careers.
“I think one thing that makes the Goldwater Scholarship so valuable is the experience writing it,” Garrick said. “One of the questions I had to consider was why do I like science? Why am I here? And it’s really hard for me to pin down to one specific moment because I’ve always been drawn to science.”
Garrick, who is from Missoula and a first-generation college student, got her first experience working in UM labs while attending Sentinel High School and intended to eventually pursue higher education beyond 猎奇重口. Upon graduating from high school, she received the Presidential Leadership Scholarship and several others through the to attend the University as a Davidson Honors College student, where she first began studying pre-pharmacy.
“I’ve always had an interest in human health and also in chemistry, and I’ve found biochemistry to be a happy medium between the two of them,” she said. “Initially, my interest was to do research with a pharmacy degree, but then I realized that wasn’t necessarily a component of the program, so I did some soul searching and decided I wanted to research pharmaceutical drugs instead.”
Attending UM proved to be the right choice for Garrick, she said, crediting the University’s 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio and robust opportunities to engage in undergraduate research.
“At UM, I’d say I’ve gotten way more opportunities to do undergraduate research than other people at bigger-name universities,” Garrick said. “I’ve had a lot of mentorship that’s been really hands-on and helpful.”
Studying at UM also meant she could pursue a music minor and continue her love of playing the cello. She’s even performed several times for the Missoula Children’s Theater.
In her application to the Goldwater Foundation, Garrick wrote about her desire to pursue a Ph.D. in drug design and develop birth control for men.
“I feel like there’s such a burden placed on women to have to bear all of the side effects of birth control, and there’s just not enough options for men,” Garrick said. “The fact that the people reviewing applications for the scholarship were willing to invest in me and my passions gives me a little more hope that one day there will be more options.”
While UM does not have a lab currently exploring male birth control options, Garrick found plenty of opportunities to gain an in-depth understanding of protein structure, function and how to design compounds, which will be instrumental for her future goals, she said.
“Lydia’s involvement in STEM research at UM since high school is a testament to the willingness of our faculty to train and mentor students very early on – something that is not always available at other research institutions,” said Kylla Benes, director of UM’s Office of External Scholarships and Fellowships. “Lydia’s research training at UM is setting her up for success on whatever path she takes. Receiving the Goldwater is just the beginning.”
Garrick is a junior at UM, but once she graduates she plans on pursuing graduate school and eventually earning a doctorate. Her early experiences working in UM labs while in high school and continuing to engage in research as a college student have shaped her confidence in the lab.
“Now, I feel like I’m able to digest more scientific papers and understand what’s going on instead of looking up every other word,” Garrick said. “I’ve had so many opportunities to do research at a really high level and prepare me for the next step.”
Contact: Dave Kuntz, UM director of strategic communications, 406-243-5659, dave.kuntz@umontana.edu.