Student Spotlight: Jasmine Martin

Jasmine Martin decided on a career and academic path very early in life while watching her younger brother grow up with significant medical issues. "I remember as far back as 1st grade wanting to do something with science. Over the years, staying overnight with my brother at Golisano Children's Hospital, I met the  entire staff there and learned how they got into their field. They told me I seemed incredibly interested, and they always needed more people to work there."

She took those conversations to heart and incorporated it into her career plan. After graduating from Fayetteville-Manlius High School, she began her higher education journey at a four-year school. She attended for a couple of years, took time off, then came to Onondaga Community College.

Martin chose the Mathematics & Science degree program and became an active member of the campus community. She joined the Whole Earth Club and eventually became its President, worked on campus as a Chemical Technician in the Ferrante Hall laboratories, and participated in the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (C-STEP) and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program. "I've really loved it here. I've felt a strong sense of community in C-STEP and in my classes. The students here have been great. I've seen a lot of collaborative efforts to come together."

In January of this year,  Martin participated in the uSURE Science Undergraduate Research Experience. She worked with Professor Sarah Hall at Syracuse University where they used the animal model organism C.elegans to investigate the mechanisms of environmental programming of gene expression and its impact on adult phenotypes.

Martin is now in her final weeks at OCC. She will complete her degree this semester and plans to transfer to the Albany School of Pharmacy. Her goal is to become a Pediatric Pharmacist at Golisano Children's Hospital. "I love working with kids and I know what families go through there and how scary it can be. I'd like to be able to do research and get them better health and medications."