Mary Ann Martinez ’25J

Other clubs, sports, activities: 
Biological Sciences Department student liaison, money mentor at Conway Center, member of the Wildlife Genomics Lama lab. 

Describe your major in five words or less. 
It's more than just plants! 

Did you ever have trouble deciding on a major? What, ultimately, helped you decide? 
I never doubted I wanted to major in bio! There’s nothing better than living things. 

What was the best advice about the biological sciences that you were ever given? 
The best advice I ever received was to enjoy the process, do it at my own pace, and be kind to myself. I can always repeat a lab experiment or a procedure, but this is the time to make mistakes in a safe environment—learn from them and enjoy the ride! 

Is there a moment in the field or in the lab that particularly sticks with you for some reason? 
There are a couple of moments that really stick with me. First, last summer when my lab mates and I had to grow bacteria in over 200 petri dishes. It was a big task, but we tackled it together, and it was rewarding to see our efforts paid off. Then, when I was introduced to cell culture. Working with cell cultures made me feel so capable and confident in my ability to perform well in a lab setting. 

What do you think has been the most “Smithie” thing you’ve done in life so far? 
Learning to feel confident and comfortable expressing my opinion and feeling like I belong in academic and scientific spaces. Also, checking my phone at 1:59 pm to order a snack from the Compass Café! 

Is there a piece of advice you wish you could go back and tell yourself as a first-year? 
Take your time, have that meal with your friends, get enough sleep, and try new things. Time goes by soooo fast and you'll be out of college before you know it. 

What’s your all-time favorite Smith memory? 
Definitely attending the basketball games every season and supporting our team! The games are so much fun and they are a great way to feel connected to the Smith community.