Nia Hammond

I chose the Committee of Cancer Biology (CCB) and the University of Chicago for my graduate studies because of their collaborative environment and exceptional resources for graduate students. There are multiple shared meetings between labs, such as working groups on metabolism, pancreatic cancer, or cancer health equity. Together, these meetings promote a strong culture of collaboration. Additionally, there are multiple avenues to establish projects with clinicians, as the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCCCC) and CCB are closely associated. Because of this, my lab has had the opportunity to work with physicians who have contributed both key clinical insights and patient samples to advance my research. Within the CCB program itself, there is a strong commitment to fostering community. For example, I have personally benefited from the “CCB Buddy System”, which pairs senior students and junior students to provide mentorship during the transition to graduate school. 

The extensive resources available to graduate students at the University of Chicago also influenced my decision to train here. The UCCCC supports graduate students through its Trainee Associate Membership, offering access to networking events, seminars, and workshops that support training. The University of Chicago’s NIH-funded myCHOICE program also provides programming to ensure the successful career development of its graduate students, from writing minicourses to seminars about how to combat imposter syndrome fears. My training has significantly benefited from these opportunities.

Since starting graduate school, in part due to the excellent environment of CCB, I have published a co-first author publication in Cancer Discovery and a first author review in NPJ Metabolic Health and Disease. Additionally, I have had the privilege of presenting my work at two international conferences, two national conferences, and a handful of local symposia. Lastly, in recognition of my work, I received the Margaret Benjamin Award and a fellowship from the Multidisciplinary Training Grant in Cancer Research.