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Drew University Class of 2024 Outcomes: Jay Khandelwal C’24

Pursuing a Masters in Science in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at Johns Hopkins

May 2024 – As Drew University’s 2024 Commencement nears, we’re taking a look at where some of our outstanding soon-to-be-grads are headed.

A biochemistry and molecular biology major and business minor, throughout his time at Drew Jay Khandelwal was a member of Drew’s fencing team, served as Secretary and Treasurer of the South Asian Student Association, Treasurer of the Drew University Chemistry Society, been a part of the Gamma Sigma Epsilon Chemistry Honors Society, and participated in a number of research programs, including the Research Institute of Scientists Emeriti (RISE), Drew Summer Science Institute (DSSI), and the ICUNJ Undergraduate Research Symposium. At the 2024 CLA Awards, Khandelwal received the Dr. George deStevens Award for RISE Research.

Where he’s headed: Khandelwal will head to Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health to pursue a masters of science in molecular microbiology and immunology (ScM MMI). Afterward, he plans to pursue a PhD in microbiology and explore entrepreneurial opportunities.

On his time at Drew: “At Drew, I was able to take full advantage of the liberal arts curriculum and took classes in the sciences, business, and anthropology. I was able to learn the nitty gritty of biology and chemistry, as well as physics and calculus, which helped me strengthen my foundation in the sciences and thoroughly prepared me for my success in this field. I also honed laboratory techniques and skills which have prepared me to think and work like an independent scientist and learned to communicate and spread my scientific knowledge, including ones without a background in my field. RISE has played a critical role in shaping my future. Under Dr. John Perkins, I have been working on “Increasing the production of Riboflavin in the gram positive bacterium B. subtilis” and presented this work at Day of Scholars. He has been a great mentor and a research advisor and has helped me understand what it means to be a researcher and guided me to develop a concrete research background in microbiology with his industrial expertise.”

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