CALS students are doing amazing things, and we’re excited to feature some of them in our Q&A series!

Meet Jasmine Hughes, a junior majoring in microbiology with a certificate in global health.

How are you involved on and off campus? 
I have been in Dr. Laura Knoll’s research lab for about a year and a half. I am also involved in MANRRS, AHANA-MAPS and my scholarship program, Mercile J. Lee Scholars! Off campus, I work as a nursing assistant at Meriter and enjoy volunteering at the Neighborhood Free Health Clinic and Capital Lakes Senior Living!

Why have you chosen your field of study? 
I chose to study microbiology because of its implications for the health and well-being due to its far-reaching effects in disease, food production, drug/antibiotic creation and more.

What do you like about being at UW–Madison and in CALS? 
I enjoy the large variety of classes, the lovely urban campus, great food choices and numerous seasonal activities. 

What accomplishments or achievements would you like to share with the CALS community? 
Over the summer, I was selected as 1 of 10 students to participate in The Food Research Institute’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program, where I was able to isolate RNA from a mouse parasite.

What do you want to do once you graduate?
I hope to carry many of the examples, techniques and other forms of learning into my career in healthcare.