Biology major’s summer research clarifies her career plans

She draws energy from her many activities on the Erskine campus, but Aricka Moore, a junior biology major and member of the Flying Fleet Basketball Team, is also happy to recall her off-campus adventure in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She spent most of her summer break this year shadowing physicians, engaging in research, and attending graduate-level classes.

“I was able to shadow amazing physicians such as Dr. Kela Bowman, Dr. Mark Miller, Dr. Jason Newman, and Dr. Krishna Patel at the university,” she says.

During her 10 weeks in the MUSC program, Aricka, who is from North Augusta, S.C., learned many lab procedures, benefited from opportunities to use new technology, and found her research project rewarding.

“I was blessed to work under Dr. Ozlem Yilmaz and her amazing lab staff,” she reports. “I studied a specific oral microbe and its connection to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, under NIH funding.”

Aricka and the other Summer Undergraduate Research Program participants at MUSC were enrolled in CGS 761, “Laboratory Observation and Apprenticeship,” attending class three days a week.

“The first few weeks we received lectures on multiple subjects,” she explains. “The second half of the summer, the lectures were more focused on our research projects. For me, it was microbiology.”

Participation in the MUSC summer program “piqued my interest in the research field but allowed me to realize that I truly want to be a doctor,” Aricka says.

Once the students completed the program, they received 15 credit hours on an MUSC transcript, which could offer a leg up for students aspiring to a career in medicine.

Thinking back on her decision to major in biology, Aricka says that choice was based on her “consistent love for science” and desire to gain knowledge. She considers Professor of Biology Dr. Al Mina a mentor at Erskine.

“He is my academic advisor and keeps me on the right track,” she says. “He encourages me to stay on my path and do what’s best for me [and] still reach my goal.”

Mina, a graduate of Clemson University who earned his medical degree from MUSC, spent three years on the clinical faculty at the University of Tennessee in Memphis and another five in private practice before joining the Erskine faculty in 2007.

“I remember during Aricka’s freshman year the professors who taught her in the introductory biology classes specifically mentioned her as an outstanding student,” Mina says. “She made a strong first impression and has continued to demonstrate excellence ever since.”

Aricka is serving this semester as a Resident Assistant (R.A.) in Robinson Hall, a Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader for General Chemistry, and an assistant in the SI office. She is also a member of the leadership honor society Omicron Delta Kappa and the health preprofessional honor society Alpha Epsilon Delta.

“This year, I’m extremely busy,” Aricka admits. Some of her ability to handle a demanding schedule probably comes from her enthusiastic outlook. “I love staying involved at Erskine to continue to get to know most of the student body and staff!”

Aricka’s time at Erskine has been enriched by having her twin sister Arin on campus. “Having a twin on campus is not your average college experience,” she says.

Her sister is a health science major, “so a lot of our classes overlap,” she says, adding, “Arin also plays basketball and is a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, so I see her very often. I’m also her R.A.”

The twins are nearly the same height, their names are similar, and both are basketball players, so mix-ups happen.

“As annoying as it is to be constantly confused with Arin—though we’re not identical—it’s great to have family here. Even though I have found my own little ‘family’ at Erskine, it’s good to have someone who knows and understands literally everything about me.”

Now that her summer research experience has helped Aricka to decide that she would like to become a physician, she is mapping out her next steps.

“Following graduation, I plan to take a gap year and work before applying to medical school,” she says. Her goal is to become an orthopedic surgeon.

Meanwhile, Aricka keeps up with her studies and assists other students as an R.A. and SI leader.

“While her performance in the classroom is noteworthy, I am more impressed by the quality of her character,” says Mina. “She represents the ideal Erskine student in the way she conducts herself in all phases of life.”