Carolynn Gonzalez

Carolynn Gonzalez is from Saint Charles, Mo., and is a biology major at Truman State University. Her areas of interest include: genetics, epigenetics and genome editing.

During middle school, Gonzalez joined the robotics team, which used research components to create a solution to a real world problem.

“In the seventh grade, I focused on researching Alzheimer’s Disease and developed an idea for a drug to treat it,” she said. “I have been hooked on research ever since.”

Gonzalez’s interest in research compelled her to join a lab her freshman year at Truman State where she has been studying yeast genetics. During her time at WashU, her research will focus on understanding how the kidney repairs itself after acute kidney injury.

“My role is to determine if a particular transcription factor contributes to repairing a kidney and if its overexpression enhances the repair process,” she said.

She will be working with Dr. Monica Chang-Panesso.

Gonzalez is a member of the Alpha Phi Omega, a national co-ed service fraternity, as well as Beta Beta Beta, the biological honors fraternity. She enjoys figure skating, bike riding and watching her favorite shows, “Parks & Recreation” and “Game of Thrones.”