“I think that’s what’s nice about academic institutions is because there’s a lot of people coming from different backgrounds, and you are brought by one mission - to do science. No matter where you are from, it’s the science that brings you together.” - Herdeline (Digs) Ardoña

This episode is a conversation with Herdeline (Digs) Ardoña. Digs obtained her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from UP Diliman in 2016 before obtaining her Ph.D. in Chemisty at Johns Hopkins University in the United States. She has then stayed in the US to pursue her postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University. She is now an Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California Irvine.

In this episode, we discuss

• Her background, how it's like studying in the Philippines
• What motivated her to go to graduate school right out of undergrad
• Her PhD Application Timeline and realizing she wanted to apply
• Choosing between an MD/PhD, PhD or an MD program for further studies
• Why she decided to go to the US and school selections and other considerations
• Getting into Johns Hopkins for PhD
• Navigating academia as an international student in the US

Learn more about Herdeline (Digs) through:

• Her website
• PinoyScientists featured article

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I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about pursuing a career in STEM every month!

Thanks to Seth Sanchez (@ primeblissrecords) for the intro music.