HSU Student Spotlight: Katherine Do

This summer, senior biochemistry and molecular biology major Katherine Do presented bioremediation research at the National Undergraduate Research Symposium at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Center in Memphis, TN.

“It was cool to see what kind of careers open up with a degree in science and to learn more about St. Jude,” Do said. “Students from across the nation came and got to tour the St. Jude campus. I made an oral presentation and a poster presentation.”

Do conducted her research for the conference with Dr. Hennigan and Dr. Garner. She explained the basics of bioremediation to decrease pollution caused by fracking.

“Basically, we are using microbes to degrade crude oil in places like west Texas. When you put high pressure water into ground, you’re releasing contaminated water which hurts wildlife. We worked on using microbes that are suitable and clean up the environment,” Do said.  

After graduation, Do plans to get her M.D. and Ph.D. through a dual program at McGovern Medical School. She hopes to continue medical research as a physician-scientist.

“I am a part of the Holland Research Society because I wanted to see how science can work outside of the textbook. Research is a great way to do that,” Do said.

She is involved in other campus organizations as the president of Gamma Beta Phi Honors Society, a member of the TriBeta Biology Honors Society and a member of the Pre-Health Club.

“I chose to do Pre-Health Club because it gave me the opportunity as a freshman to meet upperclassmen who had the same career goals as me. I saw it as a pre-networking opportunity and to see where I could be in x amount of years,” Do said.

She works in the Holland School of Science and Mathematics as a teaching assistant for a freshman biology class.

“I feel like Sid Rich is my second apartment because of how much time I spend there. I take my classes and work there. I enjoy getting to meet the underclassmen in the biology class. That’s been a great experience,” Do said.

She also works in Centralized Tutoring once a week.

“I help with all sciences and math, and I basically help run Centralized Tutoring. I help make it run smoothly as a connection between students and tutors,” she said.

Do also spends much of her free time volunteering with the International Refugee Committee.

“The IRC is an organization to help refugees from around the world settle into their new lives in Abilene. I volunteered with the reading program they had,” Do said.

“Each volunteer would pick up a family member and spend about two hours with the kids, helping them read and learn English. It was really cool to see them develop.”

Do grew up in Orange County California before moving to Grand Prairie, TX.