Tell us a little about what the class is. IMC goes over all the parts to an integrated marketing communications plan, such as advertising, public relations, direct marketing, digital/internet marketing, sales promotion and personal selling. You really get to work a lot of different muscles within the communications industry. Is there anything else that made […]
bioinformatics
My Favorite Class: Philosophy of Science
This story is a part of the “My Favorite Class” series.
Madison Dautle is a junior Bioinformatics major. She is from Cherry Hill, NJ (Camden County) and transferred from Stockton University.
What was the name of your favorite class at Rowan?
Philosophy of Science
What department was the class in?
Philosophy (PHIL)
Who taught the class when you took it?
Dr. Nathan Bauer
Tell us a little about what the class is.
Most people assume that science is constantly progressing to explain the true nature of the universe. To explain what it is we see. This class teaches you that isn’t necessarily true. It opens up your eyes to assumptions you hold as a scientist that you probably didn’t even know you were assuming.
Share with us a few details on why this class was interesting or special to you.
This class finally made me think. Sure, I’m good at explaining chemistry and biology, but that doesn’t make you think, or at least not in the same way. That class made me think in ways I never had to before, and it was exciting!
It’s funny to be able to believe something yet not have a fully thought out reasoning for why. Like one hypothesis referred to as the Grue hypothesis. This idea states that all emeralds are green until a certain date when they all suddenly turn blue. Seems silly, right? That can’t possibly be true, but until the date passes, it can’t be proved false. Yet we all believe that the emeralds will stay green when that hypothesis has a 0% chance of occuring. Look it up. It’s really interesting. My brain hates it but also loves it because I want to know why we believe that.
Is there anything else that made this class impactful?
The way Professor Bauer ran the class. He really made it easy to follow while still making us think. He asked for student input and gave us the opportunity at the end of the semester to present one of our own ideas as a group. I still think about that class daily, and it’s been a while since I’ve taken it.
What makes this professor great?
He’s engaging. Quirky. Kind of what you’d expect from a philosophy professor, but you can tell he loves it. Sometimes you’ll ask a question and he’ll become confused because he didn’t think of that, but he just tells you to go write it down because it’s a good idea. He supports a learning environment and gives adequate room to grow.
How did this class help to support your academic or personal growth, or your professional goals?
To be honest, I thought I would hate this class. Turns out it was the best possible thing that could have happened to me. I finally have something to really THINK about. I am thinking about things that can’t be reconciled by a Google search or even a bit of heavier research. The answers for these questions aren’t written down because no one has truly figured them out yet. Academically and professionally, it can help just broaden my horizons. But personally, it entertained my brain.
I’m lucky that I don’t struggle with understanding most teachable concepts, but with this class, the more he taught, the more questions I had. A really amazing class.
What are your professional goals?
I would like to perform genomics research using bioinformatics. Currently, I am interested in long-term memory — what genes, and in what concentrations, are expressed during memory recall and consolidation.
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Story by:
Caitlyn Dickinson, senior public relations and advertising major
Photos by:
Joe Gentempo, senior art major
Bioinformatics: Problem Solving, Personal Medicine [VIDEO]
The Rowan Global M.S. in Bioinformatics (M.S.) program prepares you with skills that immediately contribute in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and biomedical fields.
“Your Major is WHAT?” 10+ Unique & Interesting Majors at Rowan University [VIDEO]
Real Insights from Real Students on Their Majors
#PROFspective: Bioinformatics Major Anne Marie Fernandez
Name: Anne Marie Fernandez 
Year: I would say that I’m a “super senior,” but I’m in the graduate portion of my combined BS/MS degree program.
Major: Bioinformatics
Hometown and county: Stratford, NJ (Camden County)
On-campus resident or commuter: Commuter
Where do you live (on or off campus): I live off-campus, at home, with my parents and younger sister.
First-generation college student?: Kind of! My mother graduated with her nursing degree in the Philippines, but I’m the first in my family to go to school in the U.S. and graduate with a degree.
Academic clubs: I am a member of the Tau Sigma Transfer Honor Society, Biology Club and Rowan University Philippine American Coalition (RUPAC).
Job on campus: I work in the Holly Pointe Commons office as a Service Assistant.
What inspired you to choose your major and the 4+1 program? When I was in the process of transferring to Rowan I was torn between Translational Biomedical Sciences and Bioinformatics, but the interdisciplinary aspect of bioinformatics is what won me over.
During the spring semester of my junior year, I felt that I wasn’t prepared enough to go into the job market after my senior year and I also was interested in taking more classes. Those two reasons pushed me into applying for the 4+1 program. I was especially interested in the new biology classes that were offering in the fall at that time, which are now offered under the Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) department.
How does your field impact the world? What impact would you like to have on the world in your field? The field of bioinformatics has ties to several different disciplines in the scientific community. A few major ones are: biology, chemistry, computer science, information technology, mathematics and statistics. Most research is based on biological or chemical data done on a molecular level. In the biological aspect, research is usually done on genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics.
Did you ever have a moment of uncertainty within your major? How did you get through the challenge? I feel that every student at one point questions whether they chose the right major, and I was definitely one of them at several points of my undergraduate career. When that happens, for me personally, it’s usually because I’m burnt out due to school and stress. To get through it, I typically take a break from my work and go over the reasons why I chose my major in the first place and recall all the great experiences I had by choosing this path, such as the people I met and made connections with and all the interesting topics I learned during the courses 
I took. But the major proponent that always puts me right back on track is my family, and how I would choose bioinformatics over nursing in a heartbeat.
What is one thing about Rowan that was a happy surprise for you? I loved the feeling/vibe the campus gave off. I’m not much of a city girl and can only withstand the busy atmosphere for short spurts of time. So, I really wanted to go to a university with a suburban feel like the community college that I attended, and Rowan ended up being the perfect fit for me.
Tell us about one club, organization or group of friends that make you feel like Rowan is home. I already felt comfortable with Rowan when I transferred, but what really made it feel like home were the friends I made through RUPAC (also known as PAC). The club and its members are so welcoming and lively that there’s never a dull moment at general board meetings (GBMs).
But the great thing about PAC is that the time spent with members is not solely isolated to club meetings. You are able to create connections on a deeper level (if you choose to do so) with them due to the time spent with them outside of GBMs just by playing games, studying together or just by talking with each other about anything and everything. The people in this organization really do create a safe space for others to flourish and be themselves and this family atmosphere is what makes Rowan feel like home to me.
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Story and photography by:
Alyssa Bauer, senior public relations major
First Year Voices: Bioinformatics Major Kelly Kirk
Meet Kelly Kirk, a freshman from Riverside, NJ (Burlington County). Kelly, a Bioinformatics major, lives in Holly Pointe Commons.
Kelly loves looking forward to going to the Equestrian Club! She attends the club during the weekend, where they practice and compete with other schools on performance.
When asked if she was ever nervous with starting Rowan, Kelly says she was never nervous but was instead very excited to begin college life!
Some advice Kelly would give to her high school self about college is, “You have a lot more time on your hands and need to learn how to budget that better.”
Like what you see, come visit us!
Story and photography by:
Adam Goskowsky, junior advertising major
Tatiyana’s Home Away From Home: Science Hall [VIDEO]
First-generation college student Tatiyana Stubbs, a sophomore Bioinformatics and Community Health double major who commutes from Millville, NJ (Cumberland County) feels most home at Science Hall studying or working on assignments in a lab.
Video by: Edris Forde, junior radio, TV & film major and Vanessa Vause, senior public relations and theatre double major
Music by: Louis Testa, sophomore music composition major
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