Graduate Alumna Focus | Esther Suikinpar Thang

I grew up in a very small village called Lumbang in Myanmar, where access to education was very limited. My family came to America when I was 16 years old. Coming from such a poor educational background, I really struggled in my early years of school. However, I was determined to finish school and earn at least a bachelor’s degree. 

I chose to study Clinical Laboratory Science at Salisbury University and received my B.S in 2013. During my study there, I was particularly interested in the immunology courses. I chose to further my studies at Hood College and received my M.S in Biomedical Science in 2019.

Currently, I am working as a Flowcytometry Scientist at Vaccine Research Center (VRC) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda.

After working in a clinical lab industry for four years, I knew I wanted to continue my career in science but was interested in exploring the research aspect.

The Biomedical Science courses at Hood College offered a strong core foundation and principles that are essential in stepping into the scientific research world. This is the main reason why I choose Hood College to study Biomedical Science (M.S). 

I really like the small class sizes that allow students to interact closely with one another and with the professors. I love the flexibility of the faculty to accommodate students who are working fulltime.

What I miss most about my program was the unity of students working restlessly together to understand the subjects, especially for the core classes such as Protein Biochemistry and Cell Structure and Functions.

My project thesis was inspired by a research paper I read in an Advance Immunology class taught by Dr. Senta Kapnic. My project was to mimic the research with improved technology to see if it would yield better results. 

What really inspired me to go above and beyond were my project advisers Dr. Rebeca Erwin-Cohen, Dr. Craig Laufer, Dr. Senta Kapnic, and Dr. Anne Boyd. Dr. Boyd reiterated many times in seminar class that this final project will reflect how much information we had absorbed over the course of the program, how well we can apply that information, and even to prove how well they taught us.

I wanted to prove that I leaned something during my time at Hood, earned my degree, and was ready to take the next step in my career. 
 

I love traveling. Exploring new places and cultures truly allows me to see life from different perspective. These explorations make me a more open-minded person, and in a way make me a better person.

I believe this should be the goal for everyone; to become the best version of ourselves.

Inspired by Esther’s story and ready to #GOFURTHER in your career? Learn about Hood’s graduate programs, including the Biomedical Science program, by clicking here.