Angela Grace Jones graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2020 with a double major in chemistry and biology. She is a graduate student in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at Duke University. This interview is part of a series conducted by the department called, “UK Chemistry Alumni: Where Are They Now?” This interview was coordinated by Arthur Cammers.

Arthur Cammers: Tell us about what it was like to double major in Chemistry and Biology for those students who are considering it. Was it challenging? Where you are now in your career, are both perspectives pertinent?

Angela Jones: It wasn’t the easiest thing to do, but the two majors connect together very well. From a practical point of view, a lot of my chemistry classes counted as biology electives and vice versa. From a scientific standpoint, I think that the combination of these two fields helped me understand biological processes at the basic molecular and atomical levels. As a graduate student in genetics, I use training from both majors to understand how single nucleotide changes can affect human susceptibility to infectious diseases.

Arthur Cammers: Did you know what you wanted to do before you graduated from UKY? When did you know? 

Angela Jones: By my junior year, I had decided to pursue a Ph.D. in a genetics-related field, but that was as much as I knew. I had broad interests due to my undergraduate work with both Dr. Butterfield in the Department of Chemistry and with Dr. Weisrock in the Department of Biology, and I wanted to combine those disciplines in my graduate career. I specifically pursued graduate programs that allow rotations in multiple labs across diverse departments and ended up choosing the Duke University Program in Genetics and Genomics as the right fit for me. I rotated in labs researching everything from stem cell studies of cardiac arrhythmias to the genetic basis of lion’s manes and ended up finding my lab home with Dr. Dennis Ko where I study the underlying genetic causes of biological sex differences in human disease.

 Arthur Cammers: Why chemistry? Why biology? What caused you to pursue both? 

Angela Jones: To be entirely honest, I did both because I couldn’t choose between them. I originally came into UK with only the chemistry major but added the biology major right before classes started so that I could take classes that interested me that were reserved for majors. Once I got involved with both departments through courses and research, I just couldn’t imagine dropping either one.

Arthur Cammers: I think you did undergraduate research in both disciplines, right? Did CHE 395 with Dr. Butterfield help focus your career plans? Can you comment on how undergraduate research contributed to your education?

Angela Jones: Yes! As I mentioned earlier, I worked with both Dr. Butterfield in Chemistry studying the biochemistry of Alzheimer’s Disease and in the lab of Dr. Weisrock in Biology studying the population genetics of North American salamanders. These were vastly different topics, but both taught me crucial skills in molecular and computational approaches that I still apply today. I think that through studying these very different subjects, I was able to determine what facets of research really excited me and used that knowledge to direct my graduate career. I keep up with my former advisors from time to time and can say without reserve that I would not be where I am today without their training and support.

Arthur Cammers: Was there a specific class or part of your study at UKY that most impacted your development as a scientist? For example, was there a particular math class that you are glad you took? 

Angela Jones: I honestly took so many classes that they all blur together to some extent, but I think there are a few classes that were extremely helpful. In my freshman year I took BIO 198 and 199, which introduced me to the world of academic research and pushed me to where I am today. On the chemistry side, I really enjoyed both semesters of biochemistry (CHE 550 and 552), which challenged me to view biology from a totally different angle.

Arthur Cammers: You undertook several academic pursuits (chemistry, biology, piano) and you were a member of the UK Marching Band. You had to travel for some away games in basketball and football. What strategies did you use to prioritize your time?  What advice would you give current students regarding time management?

Angela Jones: It kept me busy. I distinctly remember studying for a genetics exam at midnight on the band bus back from the NCAA Elite Eight game and taking the test the next morning at 10 a.m. With both majors, the piano minor, research in two labs and marching band, I had to identify my priorities to successfully complete everything. For me, that meant pushing research to the forefront of my efforts and prioritizing homework and classes during the day while leaving my evenings and weekends free for marching band. Somewhere in there, I squeezed in piano practice whenever I had the chance. For current students, I would advise you to really take some time to think about your priorities and allocate your time appropriately to get where you want to go.

Arthur Cammers: I’d ask what you did for fun, but it sounds like there was not a lot of time for horseplay or monkey business. I get the feeling that you had good friends around you, and you were involved with stuff that got you stoked! Care to comment?

Angela Jones: I truly found the most wonderful communities during my time at UK. Through the Wildcat Marching Band, I found lifelong friends, and honestly band time was a great time to decompress and have some fun. There’s nothing like performing in the stadium and hearing the crowd roar during pregame at a sold-out game. Outside of band, I was able to form strong connections with my wonderful classmates and labmates. I think the Chemistry Department was great for me in the sense that many of my classes were smaller and I was able to really connect with my peers throughout the 4 years I was there. For me, I was able to pursue my hobbies and interests with some wonderful people through all these commitments and that’s something that I’m incredibly thankful for.