2012-2013 Luce Scholar

Erin McGonagle graduated from Williams College in June 2012 with a double major in Chemistry and Studio Art. She is dedicated to pursuing a career in medicine, and has a particular interest in pediatric medicine, sparked by her time spent as a volunteer at the Children’s Hospital of Colorado and her passion for working with children. At Williams, Erin developed her interest in independent research in organic chemistry and biochemistry, pursuing an honors thesis in biochemistry as a part of Amy Gehring’s laboratory. During the summer of 2010, Erin had the opportunity to design and execute a project as a Research Assistant in Dr. Stephen Zderic’s laboratory at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Her research examined the physiological effects of swim stress on the murine bladder. She is first author on the resulting paper, “Platform Swim Stress Results in an Altered Voiding Phenotype in Male Mice,” expected for publication in the Journal of Neurourology and Urodynamics in 2012. Outside of the laboratory, Erin has found balance in her academics as a Studio Art major, with a particular interest in charcoal drawing and performance art. She also has a commitment to community service, and has served for four years as a volunteer and two years as president for the Williams Initiative for Student Health in Elementary Schools (WISHES). Raised in Colorado, Erin has a love for the outdoors and especially the mountains. She was a member of the Women’s Varsity Soccer team during her freshman and sophomore years at Williams, and with the team, she travelled to the 2008 Final Four and the 2009 Elite Eight in the NCAA Division III competition. Erin enjoys hiking, skiing, yoga, and running half-marathons.