Genetics and cell biology student Scott Stevison is a member of the prestigious Students Targeted Toward Advanced Research Studies in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Scott grew up in Vancouver, Washington, and graduated from Union High School. Scott is minoring in music and plans to graduate in the spring of 2024, after which he will purse a PhD to advance his career in cancer research.
How has WSU prepared you for your future?
The friendly social atmosphere here at WSU paired with the immense research opportunities available for undergraduate students has made this the perfect place for me to grow as a researcher, student, and individual.
What’s your favorite thing about WSU?
Identifying one favorite part about WSU is impossible because there are so many great aspects of the school as well as the town of Pullman, but the energy surrounding college football Saturdays is second to none and has created some of my favorite memories throughout my time at WSU.
What’s your favorite course you’ve taken at WSU?
My sophomore year presented me with a variety of challenging courses, but in the eye of the storm, I took a writing class through the honors college. Professor DJ Lee taught the class and created a relaxing environment where I felt like I could breathe between stressful lecture courses while also advancing my writing skills through fresh themes such as environmental issues and defining nature itself.
What do you hope to do when you graduate?
I aspire to pursue a PhD to further advance my career in cancer research. I am interested in working in either industry or academia, but wherever I land after graduate school will hopefully allow me to improve the prognoses of cancer patients in the future.
Do you have a job or work in a lab?
As a STARS student, I have worked in research labs during my entire tenure at WSU. Most recently, I have been working with Dr. Wyrick’s lab where we explore DNA repair in the context of melanoma. I have had the fortune of entertaining both computational and wet lab projects and have collaborated with a variety of graduate students whom I look up to.
What’s one of your favorite hobbies?
I love to be active. Since I was able to walk, I have always competed in sports including basketball, baseball, football, and especially soccer. I have been playing goalkeeper since before goalkeepers were allowed in youth soccer and would often get my coaches in trouble, which we laugh about to this day. In my spare time, I enjoy playing pickup soccer out at the community fields in Pullman as well as competing in the intramural leagues at WSU.
What’s a unique fun fact about you?
I have been playing classical tuba for over a decade now and continue to perform with the WSU tuba studio and the WSU symphonic wind ensemble. I enjoy playing music and find that music and science complement each other well to help contribute to my healthy work-life balance.