Image
Students
Anna Nahata: From Biology to the Path Toward Medicine
Anna Nahata ’26 found her fit in biology through hands-on science. At Dyson College, she built a strong academic and research foundation through courses in genetics and anatomy, faculty mentorship from Professors Matthew Marcello and David Boerma, and research using Caenorhabditis elegans to study sperm activation and male fertility. Her work earned recognition at Pace’s Biology Research Day and helped her receive highest academic excellence in the BS in Biology program. Now, Nahata is taking a gap year before applying to medical school, using the time to study for the MCAT, work as a medical assistant, volunteer in healthcare settings, and gain additional clinical experience.
Anna Nahata ’26
Next step: Gap year before medical school
What drew you to biology?
I have always been interested in science and loved hands-on work. It is one thing to read and understand how a process works on paper, and another to witness a reaction in front of you. When I saw how many labs were built into Pace’s science courses, I knew it would be a strong fit.
Which courses helped shape your experience?
Genetics with Professor Matthew Marcello and Anatomy with Professor David Boerma stood out. Both professors explained complex concepts in digestible ways, which made learning less intimidating and more exciting. I continued to do research with Professor Marcello and presented my work on Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to investigate the role of TCP11 in sperm activation and male fertility. That research was presented at the Eastern Colleges Science Conference and Biology Research Day at Pace, and I was selected for highest academic excellence in the BS in Biology program.
What are your post-graduation plans?
I will be taking a gap year before applying to medical school. During that time, I will study for the MCAT, work part-time as a medical assistant, volunteer at South Brooklyn Health Hospital and an animal clinic, and complete an internship as a health aide at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn.
More from Pace
Students
Rajni Jaiswal ’26 is using her MPA from Dyson to support equity, education access, and student success while continuing faculty-mentored research at Pace.
Students
Morgan Strecker ’26 is bringing her fascination with the brain, the nervous system, and human health into a research technician role at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Students
Through faculty-mentored lab work, award-winning research, and a deep curiosity about the nervous system, Anastasiya Kirdianova ’26 is launching her next chapter at Dartmouth College.