Outreach
Outreach, service, and community engagement
Students for the Advancement of Microbiology (SAM)
The Students for the
Advancement of Microbiology is a student organization whose primary purpose is to
promote the advancement of its members, in and out of the classroom, by providing
opportunities for personal and professional development.
As Vice President, Caitlin organized two PhD recruitment weekends, hosted the first
departmental town hall, collaborated with the Graduate Studies Chair to revise the
graduate student handbook to include resources for learning and disability support, and
contributed to planning and executing social events throughout the semester.
Graduate Studies Committee
The Graduate Studies Committee is
responsible for the governance and administration of the graduate program, including
admissions decisions, curriculum oversight, student progress evaluation, and the
development and implementation of program policies in alignment with Graduate School
guidelines.
As a student representative on the Graduate Studies Committee, Caitlin contributed a
graduate student perspective on admissions, policy, and curriculum decisions,
collaborated with faculty on program updates, and communicated student feedback to
support effective departmental governance.
Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair
The Regeneron
International Science and Engineering Fair is an international research competition to
showcase outstanding high school student projects across diverse scientific fields,
fostering innovation, interdisciplinary exchange, and engagement with leaders in
academia and industry.
As a Grand Awards Judge, Caitlin evaluated student research projects, interviewed
finalists to assess the quality, originality, and scientific rigor of their work, and
collaborated with fellow judges to determine award recipients across categories.
Gahanna Lincoln High School Bioscience Capstone Mentor
The Gahanna
Lincoln High School Bioscience program encourages students interested in STEM to
develop a scientific question and answer it through their own experimental design. At
the end of the academic year, students present their capstone research project in a
poster format, where they are evaluated by local scientists for the opportunity to
compete at the state level. The program's primary goal is to help young scientists
understand and engage in the scientific process.
As a mentor, Caitlin guided students in formulating testable questions, navigating
primary literature to develop experimental approaches, analyzing results and
limitations, and troubleshooting challenges. To date, she has mentored three high school students
between 2023-2025.