For students whose love of science is simply in their genes, the Genetics Club at NC State provides opportunities for learning, networking, research and more.
The undergraduate genetics major was established in 2010, and is the first genetics program as a major area of study in the UNC System. The Genetics Club brings together students inside and outside of the rapidly growing major to complete service projects, go on lab tours, visit museums and listen to speakers both on and off campus.
Alease Daniel, a fourth-year studying genetics and current Genetics Club president, talks about involvement with the organization.
“I became involved in the club my freshman year,” Daniel said. “I wanted to major in genetics so I thought it was a good way to learn more about the major. I also had to do a class assignment about clubs on campus, so that gave me an extra push to go. I started just as a member of the club attending the meetings and participating in events and then ran for officer positions as they opened up.”
Connor McKenney, a fourth-year studying genetics and the Genetics Club’s current vice president of service and outreach, also became involved during his first year when a class required students to go to events on campus. The Genetics Club had an interesting presentation on plant genetics, according to McKenney.
Kelly Roche, a third-year studying genetics and current secretary of the Genetics Club, heard a peer talking about the club in a genetics class and since became involved.
It is not known how or when the club originally started up, but the club currently has the largest group of students since Daniel has been involved, according to Daniel.
“After my freshman year, when I became an officer, only our president had been on the board before, so she and now our current president have done a lot to add to our club, which is something I wanted to be involved in,” Roche said. “The club has slowly but surely become a lot more structured and larger as a result, which enables us to do more fun things like volunteer for the day at the Carolina Tiger Rescue, tour a lab downtown, and get to know our fellow students that are interested in genetics.”
The organization participates in many science-related volunteer activities, such as Darwin Day at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, as well as frequent visits to local elementary schools in order to talk about science with elementary school students, according to Daniel.
“This year the Genetics Club has been involved in Shack-A-Thon to help raise money for the homeless, we have gone to the Carolina Tiger Rescue to volunteer and maintain the sanctuary and we are doing other activities involving local elementary schools and museums,” McKenney said. “It has been very rewarding to be able to help organize these events and make a difference in the community.”
The club also has guest speakers come in to talk about various genetics-related topic as well as their own personal research, according to Daniel. In addition to volunteer activities, the club tries to inform their members about research opportunities for involvement.
“Many of the upperclassmen in the club are very experienced in research, and can provide advice and share opportunities related to research, graduate school and various careers,” McKenney said. “It is also a great place to expand your knowledge and learn about aspects of genetics and biology outside of your expertise.”
Students can get involved with the genetics-focused group by going to meetings, which are hosted on the second Tuesday of the month. Students can also email Roche at kmroche2@ncsu.edu to be added onto the email list, and/or to ask questions concerning the Genetics Club.
“The goal of the club is to provide an environment for people who love science, and give them a place to talk and make friends,” Daniel said. “We also want to help the community by making science fun and teach[ing] the public more about science.”
Alease Daniel, a fourth-year studying genetics and biotechnology, is the president of Genetics Club. The NC State Genetics Club can frequently be found doing service projects, going on lab tours and visiting museums around Raleigh.
