Get to know our BPH students!
Esrah Du
G3, Catteruccia/Dvorin Labs
I am from Westford, MA, a small town right on the border with New Hampshire. My favorite thing about my hometown is the small apple orchard, Drew Farms, especially in the fall.
Chimwemwe “Chim” Mwase
G5, Jin-Ah Park Lab
I am from Lusaka, Zambia. What I enjoy most is the incredibly friendly people. There are over 70 ethnic groups spread across Zambia and Lusaka is a melting pot of these different cultures and traditions. Everyone is united in being Zambian even when they have a different culture and language.
Cyrianne Keutcha
G5, Duraisingh Lab
I have two hometowns! My first and original hometown is Bafoussam, a city in Cameroon, Central Africa. Bafoussam provided a great community and growing up in such a community gave me a self-worth that made me.
Gyan Prakash
G3, Stirling Churchman Lab
I come from Rishikesh, India, nested in the Himalayans range and by the banks of the Ganges. Cultural diversity and pristine mountain trails with views of some of the highest mountain peaks are always a reason to visit. Not to mention, Indian street food and desserts are my callings to be back home more often.
Lissah Johnson
G3, Sarosiek Lab
I am from Elk Grove, CA -a suburb of Sacramento. One of my favorite things to do is go to downtown Sacramento to check out the amazing murals painted around the city, enjoy our famous “farm-to-table” cuisine at one of the up-and-coming restaurants , or walk along the waterfront.
Harim Won
G5, Rubin Lab
I was born in Seoul, but moved to Omaha, Nebraska when I was two and grew up there! Omaha was a great place to grow up and an underappreciated gem, especially featuring the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium (ranked #1 by TripAdvisor in 2014!) and the beautiful downtown Old Market.
Johnathan Kepple
G3, Bernhardt Lab
I am from a small town in Texas and what I enjoy about it the most is the relaxed and tranquil atmosphere.
Sydney Stanley
G5, Fortune Lab
I am from Greensboro, NC which is also known as “Tournament Town” because it is the birthplace of the Atlantic Coast Conference and is home to their basketball tournaments, which is great because I grew up as a huge college basketball fan!
Sam Lapp
G3, Manning Lab
I am from Chicago, IL. As hard as it is to pick a favorite, what I enjoy most about Chicago is biking on the lakefront trail.
Charlotte Wirth
G5, Lu Lab
I was raised on an island in Lake of the Woods, Minnesota which is the northernmost point of the contiguous 48 states. I loved the sense of community there.
Katlyn Gabriel
G4, Greka Lab
I am originally from Kintnersville, Pennsylvania, a small rural town about an hour north of Philly. I loved the proximity to nature and outdoor activities. Summer was a great time for kayaking, cliff diving, hiking, creek parties, or BBQs, all within a few miles of my home.
Krystle Kalafut
G6, Manning Lab
I am from a small suburb outside Youngstown, OH, a prior hub of the steel industry halfway between Pittsburgh, PA and Cleveland (aka “Steel Valley”). The slower pace of life in my hometown is a nice reprieve from the city. I really enjoy lounging in my parent’s open back yard with my dog and the chance to catch up with family and friends.
Morgan Martin
G4, Wirth Lab
I’m a Southern city girl born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. There are sooo many wonderful things about my city, but my absolute favorite would have to be the food. With every type of restaurant ranging from hole-in-the-wall to Michelin starred representing any cuisine you can think of, Atlanta is a foodie’s paradise. I make a list of old and new spots that I want to visit every time I go home, and I enjoy those meals with family and friends.
Stuart Adamson
G6, Biddinger Lab
I’m from the west coast; I mostly grew up in the San Francisco area, but I lived much of my life in Oregon and a bit in Tahoe as well. I love the space that is devoted to nature and recreation out there. There’s such a diversity of outdoor activities in close proximity, and there’s a much greater tree:person ratio.
Kerry McGowen
G6, Rubin Lab
I am from Temecula, CA. My favorite thing about my hometown is seeing my family and childhood friends.
Jordan Jensen
G4, Huttenhower Lab
I’m from Omaha, Nebraska and when I go home I love getting to spend time with my family both immediate and extended! With my immediate family, we enjoy spending time exploring the main street area my parents live near – a cute street with shops, bars, and restaurants to enjoy good food together!
Kejun (Albert) Ying
G5, Gladyshev Lab
I’m from Fuzhou, China. What I appreciate most about my hometown are its scenic mountains, delectable food, and the rich culture of tea-drinking. These elements create a serene and fulfilling environment that I enjoy the most.
Nancy Pohl
G3, Naama Kanarek Lab
Although I have lived in New England since undergrad, I am originally from Houston, Texas. I love visiting my family and my cat. Also, the food in Houston is completely unmatched.
Abigail Frey
G3, Fortune Lab
I am from Natick, Massachusetts and something I love about this area is how close it is to so many types of fun activities! Within an hour you could be swimming in the ocean, skiing down a mountain, or picking apples and eating fresh apple cider donuts. It is also fun to have alpacas as next door neighbors!
Jake Jensen
G5, Kim Lab
I am from Weymouth, Massachusetts, which is just south along the coast from Boston. Eastern Massachusetts is a place of many seasons and landscapes, which I was lucky to have growing up. There are beaches, mountains, beautiful fall leaves, snow sports, and the summer is always an ideal 75-80 degrees.
Nalat Siwapornchai
G3, David Sinclair Lab
I grew up moving between Bangkok and Suphan Buri in central Thailand. What I love most is the vibrant and accessible food culture, especially the lively food markets and street vendors with delicious, spicy offerings available at any time of the day. It’s a foodie paradise!
Sean Watson
G5, Springer Lab
I am from Omaha, Nebraska. My family is the most important thing in my life and my favorite thing about Omaha is that my family and friends live there. Additionally, Omaha is a reasonable distance to Colorado and I love mountain activities like hiking and skiing.
Katie Westervelt
G5, Marcia Goldberg Lab
I am originally from St. Louis, Missouri, though my family is from Maine and has since moved back – both are centers of home in their own ways. In St. Louis, I love the annual hot air balloon race. I have fond memories watching colorful balloons take to the sky. The night before is the balloon glow where all the balloons are inflated but grounded and Forest Park takes on an enchanted, mystical feel. In Maine, I enjoy the spaciousness and fresh air where my family lives, with multitudes of surrounding trails to enjoy the environment, as well as the fact that my family is now a mere car ride away.
Zeqiu Branden Wang
G3, Gokhan Hotamisligil Lab
I am from Tianjin, China. It is a coastal city near the capital, Beijing. One of the things I enjoy the most is the local breakfast. When I go back to my hometown, the first thing I do is wake up early in the morning and enjoy a hot local breakfast soup.
Kiwi Florido
G5, Sarosiek Lab
I was born in Cebu, a small island in the Philippines, but I spent half of each year in Los Angeles, so my childhood consisted of experiencing the best of both worlds. I love the food and people in my hometown Cebu; growing up with the world’s best lechon (roasted pig) is phenomenal, and Filipino food variety created my diverse palate. I also loved the chill island lifestyle with the best beaches in the world. In L.A. I love the versatility – you can go skiing in the mountains, and swimming under the sun all in one day, and of course the diverse restaurant scene.
Melia Granath-Panelo
G3, Kajimura Lab
I am originally from the Bay Area, CA, but my parents moved to Sacramento CA when I was young, and then I moved back to the bay for undergrad and lived there for 6 years until I came to Boston. The food and the natural beauty of the CA coastline are my favorite parts for sure. The restaurants are excellent and there’s so much variety, and the fresh produce from local groceries and farmers markets is unparalleled.
