Dr. John Petrini and Carrie Adelman in the lab

Carrie Adelman is a fourth-year student in the Allied Program in Molecular Biology of the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences. She works in the laboratory of Dr. John Petrini.

The Sky is the Limit

The major reason I came to Weill Cornell was the faculty. When I interviewed here I was very impressed with the broad range of science going on by outstanding faculty researchers. At the time of my interview I hadn't narrowed down what area I wanted to study. I knew that if I came to Weill Cornell, I could choose anything and be in a great lab. The sky was the limit. I was also drawn to the school because of its close connection to clinical research. Graduate programs that focus exclusively on basic research didn't offer the kind of synergy I was looking for. I have it all at Weill Cornell -- breakthrough basic research and a deep commitment to translational medicine.

The Student Body in Question

During my time at Weill Cornell, I discovered a special kind of camaraderie with my fellow students that I wasn't expecting when I first came here. In the first two years of coursework for my PhD, each of us was in the same boat, working hard to complete challenging courses, and I found everyone to be extremely intelligent and helpful. Now that I'm full-time in the lab, my lab mate has become a close colleague and friend. We're helping each other move forward with our research, giving each other advice and support. It means a lot to me to work with such a great group of students.