Diana Plain
senior
E-mail: djpqkc@missouri.edu
Home town
Columbia, Mo.
Why Mizzou
When I started looking at colleges, I knew I wanted to go to medical school and that my major was going to be biochemistry; then I looked at programs. I always knew that Mizzou would be an excellent choice, and it has one of the top biochemistry departments in the country. It was a natural choice!
Projects and programs
- I have been very involved with Residential Life as a peer adviser for and have taught the unofficial "Biochemistry Freshman Interest Group” for the past three years.
- I worked as a phlebotomist at the Veterans Administration Hospital for a year.
- I have studied abroad through CAFNR three times.
Study-abroad programs
I have had the most amazing experiences through CAFNR's study-abroad programs. Biochemistry is a very rigorous major, but I have had very little trouble scheduling my courses so that I can study abroad each summer. The summer after my freshman year I went to Costa Rica.The summer after my sophomore year I went to Prague, Czech Republic. I also traveled around Europe quite a bit while I was there. This past summer I went to Australia. where I traveled and did 12 dives on the Great Barrier Reef. I have grown so much through the experiences I have had both at Mizzou and abroad.
Favorite part of Mizzou biochemistry
It is very close-knit. I have a strong relationship with my advisers and with my fellow students. There is definitely a feeling of support that you get within the department.
Graduate school plans
I plan to attend medical school next year.
Career plans
After completing medical school, I hope to become a surgeon
Honors
- CAFNR Excellence Award
- Bright Flight Scholarship
- Retired Agriculture Professors Scholarship
- Wurdack Scholarship
- Missouri Farm Bureau Scholarship
- Agricultural Development Scholarship
- Dean's List
Organizations
- Biochemistry Club (president 2007-08)
- Alpha Zeta, the agriculture honors fraternity
- Golden Key International Honors Society (vice president)
- Pre-Medical Society mentor program
- Campus Crusade for Christ worship team
- National Society of Collegiate Scholars
- Griffiths Leadership Society for Women
- Relay For Life steering committee
Outside the lab
I love to sing, dance, play the piano and do anything musical. I also love to read and am a movie fanatic. I am incredibly eclectic in my tastes and can spend the afternoon cheering Mizzou on at sports before going to watch an old movie with my friends.