WVU student makes connections through science and sports
Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of stories highlighting the connection between pursuing a career in health sciences and participating in athletics.
Much like participation on an athletic team, healthcare professions require dedication, hard work and collaboration. At West Virginia University, senior Mason Nunley has thrived in team environments as a student in the immunology and medical microbiology program and as a member of the WVU Ski Club, building connections and learning skills that will benefit his future career on a collaborative healthcare team.
A native of Charleston, Nunley’s childhood experiences fostered his interest in the healthcare field, and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic while he was in high school helped solidify his desire to study diseases. Once he arrived at the WVU School of Medicine, the support from his professors and classmates combined with myriad opportunities in the field further ignited his passion.
“I fell more in love with it [my major] here because of the intricate problems that you get faced with in the field. It's rapidly evolving and there's always something new to learn.”
Nunley likens his academic experience to a tight-knit community. With approximately 20 students per class, the encouraging, supportive environment has allowed him to form deep connections through one-on-one interactions and foster his growth with hands-on learning. The team-based nature of the program’s research labs has also allowed him to thrive while doing the work he enjoys.
“Through my program particularly, I've made a lot of really close connections with my teachers and professors, not only through research and my mentors but also in the classroom.”
Similar to his academic journey, Nunley grew up skiing and his passion for the sport grew when he arrived at WVU. Since joining the competitive ski team, he has found another community on campus that offers him support and important bonding experiences.
“Traveling to go to races is one of the best parts of being in the ski club. For every race we carpool to get there and pitch in to rent a house near the resort for the weekend. It’s so much fun spending time together at the house, playing games, catching up with one another, and getting pumped to race.”
Through his participation in sports, Nunley has further developed skills like teamwork and coordination that help him succeed in the classroom.
“I think being involved with sports has helped me identify where I fall short and where I should lean on my teammates more to pursue a goal and get the job done. Without a team, you can't go very far, and it took me a long time to realize that I can't do it all by myself. It's not possible to treat all the patients in the world by yourself. You need a team of people to build a comprehensive skill set that can foster a good healthcare environment.”
Nunley has been able to apply these skills to his undergraduate research with the Vaccine Development Center at WVU, where he currently works as an intern. Under the mentorship of Heath Damron, Ph.D., director of the Vaccine Development Center, and Emel Sen-Kilic, Ph.D., a former post-doctoral fellow, Nunley has worked on testing for monoclonal antibody therapeutics that fight against bacteria commonly found in the environment that cause a variety of infections. He also is currently learning mRNA testing methods.
“Being part of this team keeps me on my toes since I’m always learning some new technique or assay. Working for Dr. Damron and the members of the VDC has allowed me to learn so much and develop my professional skills, and I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with this amazing group of researchers.
“I feel like the faculty pushing us to do research and getting involved in clubs has made me more prepared to get out of my comfort zone and pursue a harder field than I thought I could ever do.”
Through Department of Immunology and Medical Microbiology funding and Damron's lab, Nunley presented his research at the Van-Liere WV IDeA Conference and Autumn Immunology Conference in Chicago. Nunley is also treasurer of the student chapter of the American Society for Microbiology at WVU.
“The Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology is amazing for undergraduates who are interested in research. The curriculum is very research oriented, with several courses that teach students techniques and assays that are commonly used in microbiology and immunology.”
As he completes the last couple semesters of his undergraduate program, Nunley is looking forward to focusing on the things he finds more important heading into his future.
“I want to take more time and focus on research and career development, I'm happy that I have the opportunity to do that. I want to go into an M.D./Ph.D. program, and ultimately, one day I want to open a lab that's dedicated to helping solve complex issues in healthcare.”
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