Senior Snapshots: Scientist inspires and aspires

Finding an enzyme inhibitor that stops DNA from synthesizing in an attempt to develop an anti-cancer drug? All in a day's work for Elizabeth O'Day, A&S '06.

A biochemistry major, O'Day is passionate about her lab work, and it has paid off in the form of four major awards. "I've been working in the lab for three years, and because of my dedication and excitement in science, I was fortunate," she says.

Sophomore year she won the Beckman Scholarship, providing her with money to go to California and present her work. Junior year she was awarded with the Goldwater Scholarship. "It basically provides you with a salary so you can focus on your lab work, which is nice," she says.

This year, O'Day earned a prestigious Winston Churchill Scholarship, which will pay for her to study at the University of Cambridge, England, next year. After that, a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship will cover graduate school at Harvard University, where she plans to earn her doctorate.

"She has an extremely high motivation to succeed," says professor Evan Kantrowitz, who oversees O'Day's lab work. "Her intellect regarding science is at the very highest levels; she's thinking about science more like a graduate student than an undergrad."

But one of O'Day's greatest accomplishments at Boston College involved high school students, field trips, and a chance to be a mentor to 30 aspiring female scientists. This year she founded the Women in Science and Technology (WST) program, an initiative aimed at developing the confidence and awareness of girls with an interest in the sciences.

Each Saturday in February, 30 girls - chosen from approximately 70 applicants -from neighboring towns came to BC and worked on independent lab projects, with topics ranging from forensics, to genetics, to biochemistry.

"Every time I won an award people asked, 'What does it feel like to be a female biochemist?' I realized there was an unspoken bias going on. I wanted to make sure that other girls had equal opportunities and were encouraged to [pursue science] as well," says O'Day.

Although much of her four years as a BC undergrad was occupied with lab goggles and DNA, some of O'Day's most meaningful memories were from her time as a fullback on the women's rugby team or made over lazy Sunday brunch. "My friends here are not really science majors," she says. "It's been great to interact with people who don't do what I do and have a great time together. Some of the best times are eating omelets in the dining hall."

But she's ready to move overseas and pursue a passion that has only strengthened during her time in Chestnut Hill.

"I always knew I wanted to do research," she says, "but had no exposure to what it meant to be a scientist before I came to BC."