Genetics and cell biology major Alec Durand will graduate this spring after five years in Pullman. The Spanaway, Washington, native hopes to work in the biotech industry for roughly a year before deciding if he wants to pursue a master’s or doctorate in neuroscience.
How has WSU prepared you for your future?
WSU has prepared me in how to communicate to my peers and professors in a professional manner so that talking to job interviewers might be a little easier. Only time will tell with that.
What’s your favorite place at WSU?
I have enjoyed the environment at the rec center due to the mass amount of different people you can meet and run into. It is a little intimidating when first starting up the active gym life, but it gets better as you see more and more familiar faces. Being active is the best way to get in shape for the hills that WSU is built on, so I must train those Cougar calves every day.
What’s your favorite course you’ve taken at WSU?
I think my favorite course taken here at WSU has to be Philosophy 365, which is Biomedical Ethics with Dr. Kabasenche. He was a fun professor and was knowledgeable and mindful of everyone’s own beliefs although he had personal ones on all the ethical situations we talked about in the line of medicine.
Do you have a job?
I work at a golf course maintaining the grass during the summer to make a little money before starting a new school year. I do not work in a lab currently due to not having enough active hours outside of lecture due to homework and studying, but it has been fun and memorable.
What’s one of your favorite hobbies?
I like to bike the Pullman-Moscow trail when the weather permits. I had to find hobbies again due to not having enough time to do anything other than homework and study the past five years of being here.
What’s a unique fun fact about you?
A fun fact about me is I can wiggle my ears and I have voluntary nystagmus.