Maria Ortiz ’15
Hometown: Bronx, N.Y./Dominican Republic
Major: Biochemistry
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2015
Clubs/Organizations/Activities:
AMC-CSTEP Program
Lab Assistant
Latino Cultural Center
Chemistry tutorScholarships:
Barbara & William Geider Scholarship
AMP-CSTEP Outstanding Scholar Award
New York State Regents Scholarship
Why did you decide to attend New Paltz?
I liked that it was quiet. Even though I’ve lived in New York City for six years, I’m not a city person – I just don’t like the rush. Here, it’s calm. You do things at your own pace. And I also feel like anybody can fit in here. People don’t judge you.
How did you become interested in biochemistry?
I started here as a biology major, because I initially wanted to go to med school. I took organic chemistry, and I started to like chemistry more than biology. But I don’t like chemistry alone, because I am interested in working with living systems. I really liked both subjects, and couldn’t pick one or the other, so I wanted something in between. Now, instead of med school, I’m thinking of getting a Ph.D. in biochemistry instead. I’d like to work at a research institution, and possibly go into teaching.
I feel like anybody can fit in here.
How have you benefited from the AMP-CSTEP community?
AMP-CSTEP is my backbone here. It’s an opportunity program for minorities in the STEM fields. They let us borrow books that we need for the semester. My first semester here, I spent over $300 on books, but since I joined CSTEP, I haven’t had to buy a single science book, and we get awards to buy things from the bookstore based on our GPA.
What research opportunities have you taken advantage of here?
I’ve participated in the AMP-CSTEP Summer Undergraduate Research Experience for the past two years. We also go to conferences. I’ve presented at the University of Wisconsin and the annual CSTEP conference in Lake George (N.Y.), where I won second place in my category for my poster presentation on enzyme kinetics.
Everyone in the chemistry department has been a big help to me. I feel like I get something different from every professor.
My first research project was testing human base compounds for cancer treatment. We were looking for an alternative to cisplatin, the drug used for chemotherapy, which has bad side effects. The compounds were synthesized by (School of Science and Engineering Dean) Dan Freedman. We were trying to see which compound worked best, how many cancer cells were killed, and find what they call “the lethal concentration 50,” or what concentration over 50 percent of the cells die.
I also did research last summer at Ohio State University. The person I worked with has a research focus of immunology, so I got to work with viruses. Once I graduate, I want to research tropical viruses. When I was 7 or 8, I got the dengue virus in the Dominican Republic. It’s a virus transmitted from mosquitoes. A lot of people here don’t know about dengue, but it’s the leading cause of death in the tropics. Viruses are amazing – one tiny thing that can cause so much harm.
Which professors have you connected with the most?
I feel like everyone in the chemistry department has been a big help to me. I feel like I get something different from every professor. Preeti Dhar is known as the mother of the chemistry department. She is very loving, caring, and always on your case. Frantz Folmer-Andersen, an organic chemistry professor, is very particular about the way he does things, and very organized. If I ever become a professor, I want to be like him – very straightforward, and a fair grader. Michael Machczynski, my current faculty mentor for my research, is very supportive and always there when I need him. When I want to talk about grad school research, or even anything personal, he’s there.
