Jorey E. Cohen graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arizona in 2021 with a B.S. in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science & Molecular and Cellular Biology. Currently, she is a market research associate at Darwin Research Group, where she conducts custom projects covering multiple disease conditions. When not at her day job, Jorey is a research development professional in the SanGiovanni Lab (yes, she’s back) and a content editor for U Rock Girl. And when not working, Jorey loves to cook gluten free dishes, work out, read, and write. Jorey loves her research and is passionate about helping people live healthier lives – whether this be through her interests in public health, precision medicine, or neuroscience. She aspires to attain a master’s degree.
What was a notable accomplishment from your undergraduate experience?
Senior year, I had the opportunity to conduct research on the novel association between celiac disease and age-related macular degeneration with Dr. SanGiovanni. This was an especially exciting endeavor since I have celiac disease myself. Throughout the research process, I learned how to use bioinformatic databases such as PheWAS and Haploreg, strengthened my time management and critical thinking skills, and learned how to organize data into a comprehensive, yet concise, poster. I also gained knowledge on molecular genetics and the power of examining SNPs (DNA variation) in complex disease – which never fails to amaze me.
We found significant associations, which could be summed up as super cool. This work culminated into a research poster that I presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting of Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). I am very grateful I got to share this exciting data with scientists across the globe and learn from them too.
What did you enjoy the most about being a team member in the SanGiovanni lab?
What to pick from! Dr. SanGiovanni truly cares about each student and their success. Team members got to choose what project they wanted to work on, which allowed me to investigate age-related macular degeneration in relation to the gut-eye axis and nutrient intake. While working on these projects, I collaborated with lab members, gained knowledge on how to use several different databases, and strengthened my research paper reading skills.
One standout component of the SanGiovanni lab was the student-run professional enrichment series, where professionals in the biomedical health field shared their past experiences and passions. I thoroughly enjoyed working with lab members to set up this series and learn from our chosen speakers.
Overall, the SanGiovanni Lab is a collaborative environment where all ideas and thoughts are welcome.
How is post-college life?
Starting college is a massive change, and graduating college is no different. Hello real world. It was quite difficult to adjust at first. I had gone to school my entire life – I love school. A good chunk of my friends had moved away, and I couldn’t see them as often. I was entering a world I had not yet mastered, and it was a little daunting.
However, I stayed confident in myself and my abilities. I partook in similar extracurricular activities as I did in college, such as exercising and reading. I learned how to create a blog, and create I blog I did. I applied to jobs until I landed one that aligned with my values and interests.
Looking over this past year since graduation, I can say I do enjoy post-college life (with a few days of feeling nostalgia here and there). I apply knowledge and skills learned in class to real-world work. I continue to learn every day in my job and impact people’s lives for the better. I get more excited about my work and aspirations and look forward to progressing in my career. And I still make the time to hang out with my friends (new and old) and grow those relationships.
How did you get involved in your current role?
The short answer – LinkedIn! Not only is LinkedIn beneficial for building a network and making connections, but jobs are also posted on this platform. I highly recommend keeping a comprehensive and up-to-date profile.
I applied for the market research associate role on LinkedIn and voila! I got hired after going through a few interview rounds and writing a short essay. I will say this was not the first job I applied to, nor the second, or even the tenth. What I’m saying is: don’t get discouraged. You will land where you’re supposed to. I am now in a role combining business with science; research with writing; critical thinking abilities with communication skills. I’ve already learned so much, met some wonderful people, and am excited to see where this role takes me.
What are your plans for the next few years?
I want to go back to school to pursue a master’s degree. The exact timeline is uncertain, but I am staying busy and learning about myself every day in the meantime. I am enjoying the opportunity to learn and grow in my professional career – I majored in the hard sciences but am in a current role focusing on healthcare and pharma. It’s been a fun learning curve and an eye-opening experience getting involved in a different side of the sciences. I’m also taking a few courses through Udemy, including one on writing and one on SQL. I’m a life-long learner!