Graduate Ambassador at Cornell University
Hometown: Tamil Nadu, India
She/her/hers
Graduate Program: Soil and Crop Sciences, PhD
Anticipated Graduation Date: 2022
Institution: Anna University
Major: Biotechnology
I'm an international student who finished my undergraduate education in India. I received a Masters degree in Environmental Science from The Ohio State University and worked at an Indian genomics start-up before I started my PhD program at Cornell.
Excellent research fit and a quality mentoring experience, based on conversations with other graduate students. I also loved whatever I saw and heard about the Ithaca and upstate New York area!
I study how microbes evolve and disperse in the soil. To answer questions in this field, I draw on methods and theories from microbiology, ecology and genomics. More specifically, I am interested in the bacterial genus Streptomyces, which is famous for its antibiotic production and characteristic petrichor smell. My research revolves around their habitat preferences and biogeography, Streptomyces taxonomy and phylogeny, and the evolution of antibiotic production in this group of bacteria.
Being a graduate student at Cornell has allowed me to develop not only my research skills, but also many other skills that are essential to my professional success. The interdisciplinary and flexible nature of graduate education in my program has enabled me to construct a unique graduate education experience.
It's never too early to start thinking about graduate school. Please reach out to any of the ambassadors for questions about Cornell or even other graduate school applications.