With a diverse science background from Berry College, Amanda Merrilles ’25 could go anywhere, but she’s pursuing medical school. What will set her application apart? Her experiences speak for themselves — extensive research, successful grant writing, an interest in One Health studies and a top-notch leadership experience as student director of the technical support desk.
Coming in as an honors student, Amanda was blown away when her tour of campus included an opportunity to meet the college president and a department chair in the sciences. “I felt like Berry was serious about helping me grow and succeed. They saw my potential right away,” she remembers.
In her first year at Berry, she took Introduction to Scientific Research and was hooked. “This class got my feet wet,” says Amanda. “Associate Professor of Chemistry Mark Turlington had us practice writing research grants. I wrote one and was stunned when I received a grant for my research.”
Working with Assistant Professor of Biology Caitlin Conn, she studied parasitic plants, specifically how Triphysaria versicolor uses the KAI2 gene, which helps detect signals from nearby host plants where it can successfully attach and survive.
“Participating in research early in my college experience allowed me to find my voice and learn how to use it,” Amanda notes. “Additionally, research taught me a lot about how I respond to challenges and adapt to new situations.”
She added chemistry and One Health minors, gaining a new perspective on medicine and science.
"Taking One Health classes helped me gain a deeper understanding of how the world around me is connected,” Amanda explains. “I see a problem and have a clearer understanding of who it affects and who the stakeholders are in a situation. I’ve also learned to look outside myself and my field for creative solutions. Many people have expertise and can contribute to a solution beyond the sciences and medicine.”
Amanda also studied abroad in Paris and at La Selva Biological Research Station in Costa Rica. “I never thought I’d build and set an animal trap or go night hiking, looking for snakes,” Amanda says. “I'm so grateful for the ways these trips stretched me.”
Beyond her involvement in the sciences, Amanda worked for the technical support desk at Berry. Though she started out with little computer experience, she rose to student supervisor and enjoyed training others and tracking their growth — skills she’s likely to apply as a physician running a clinic.
As much as she loves research, a BCC 150 course that explores health care careers confirmed Amanda’s career direction: “Listening to physicians, I realized I enjoy helping people too, like in my support desk role. It opened my eyes to how important relationships and conversations are to me at work.”
Amanda encourages students excited about science to connect with professors. “Whether it's talking to them about their research or asking questions about course material, building relationships is crucial to success in college life,” she says. “By working with professors outside of class, I now have mentors that helped me determine my future career path.”
