Cara Jenkins, coordinator for the Chemistry-Biology Interface training program
It is fun to talk to students from so many different groups and programs about their research and see them grow and progress across their graduate careers.
Meet Cara Jenkins. Cara graduated with a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from UW–Madison in 2004. Her job entails the behind-the-scenes work for the NIH-funded Chemistry–Biology Interface training program, which Helen Blackwell leads. She works with Helen to coordinate coursework and with the graduate students selected to be part of our program in things like improving their presentation skills, designing outreach activities, finding opportunities to present those activities, finding internships, and whatever other support they might need. Students in the program come from Biochemistry, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chemistry, Bacteriology, and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She also enjoys connecting with alumni to follow their career trajectories and to connect them with current students. She says, “I enjoy working with the staff and faculty in Chemistry in my small way to improve mentorship and make the department as welcoming as possible.” Cara has been with the department since 2017. Before UW, she worked in a variety of part-time science jobs once her kids were in school. Outside of work, Cara enjoys quilting, gardening, cooking, reading, doing home improvement projects, and supporting her “kids in their amazing endeavors.”
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