Student Profiles

STARS profile:

Ross Rowsey (Fall 2011)

Ross Rowsey, STARS student, and his mentor Dr. Terry Hassold

“The STARS program has been an extremely enjoyable and beneficial experience for me. With early integration into the laboratory setting and lab work starting my freshman year, I am truly ahead of the curve compared to my peers.” - Ross Rowsey, STARS student in the School of Molecular Biosciences

Ross Rowsey, currently a senior at WSU, will be one of the first graduates of the STARS program when he finishes his Ph.D. in 2015. This fall he began taking graduate classes and will be formally admitted to the graduate school in January 2012.

“I knew in high school that I wanted to go to graduate school, so this program has been perfect for me,” said Rowsey, who was admitted to the program right out of high school. “I like accelerated pace. It keeps me interested and I’ve been able to start on my research sooner.”

Rowsey’s research interests are in reproductive biology and how maternal age affects abnormalities. He is working with Dr. Terry Hassold to better understand how age increases the number of abnormal chromosomes.

Since the program began four years ago, STARS students have been recognized by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program in science and engineering, published scholarly papers, and finished their undergraduate degrees a full semester ahead of schedule.

Students pursuing degrees in Biochemistry, Genetics and Cell Biology, or Microbiology from the School of Molecular Biosciences may enter the STARS program as early as their freshman year. STARS gives select students a chance to accelerate learning and earn a doctorate in as little as seven years after leaving high school.