Claire Schertzing

 

Hometown:

East Lansing, Michigan

Favorite Color:

Powder blue

Degree in Progress:

PhD in Epidemiology (Graduated May, 2024)

Research Focus:

Building models to predict sexually transmitted disease outcomes at the substate level.

What inspired your interest in pursuing a PhD?

I knew from a young age that I wanted to become a doctor of some kind. While completing my master’s in public health I fell in love with all the possibilities offered by a research career which led me to the PhD rather than medical school.
 

Why did you choose to study at MSU?

Coming from a very small liberal arts college for undergrad I was drawn to MSU due to the smaller size of the epidemiology and biostatistics department and the opportunities that offered to have close relationships with my professors and classmates.
 

What has been one of your best experiences within graduate school so far?

Getting to work with BEAMS and serve as the president for the last two years has been so much fun. I really appreciate having the opportunity to get to help plan events for the students as well as getting to know my classmates and the faculty and staff in the department better.

What do you want others to know about this program?

Getting my doctorate has been the best decision I’ve made academically. The program exposed me to myriad areas of research I never would have thought of or explored while also giving me the latitude to dig into my own research interests and how those may intersect with other topics. I am a much more well-rounded student because of the structure of the program which I really appreciate.
 

What are some of the best things about being an MSU/Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics student?

Everyone in the department is so supportive, there’s never been any question that each and every faculty and staff member is there to support the students however they can. The small class sizes are also a perk, there’s always a friend or two in class to sit and study with.

Any thoughts or advice for current students?

It can feel like a very long journey when you’re in the middle of it but it’s so worth it. Making friends with your classmates so you’ve got study buddies and people to blow off steam with when things get stressful will help make the experience way more fun.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

In my spare time I’m an avid CrossFit athlete and baker and work as a springboard diving coach

What are your future plans?

As of now my only plan for the future is to finish and defend my dissertation with the intention to eventually be working for the NIH or CDC.