Kirsten Bonawitz

Kirsten Bonawitz
My Bass Connections project completely defined my Duke experience and instilled in me a love of research that has informed my current work at the University of Michigan as well as inspired my future career and educational goals.

Degree

Neuroscience T'17

Project Team

Current Position

Clinical Research Coordinator, University of Michigan

After graduating from Duke, I worked for a year with the Global Public Service Academies, where I assisted a rural health clinic in Guatemala with the development of community health projects. Bass Connections played a large role in my decision to pursue this opportunity by challenging me to tackle complex real-world problems through a multidisciplinary lens. Currently, I work as a research assistant at the University of Michigan in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. My research focuses on the implementation of immediate postpartum contraception in complex maternity care settings.

My Bass Connections in Brain & Society research experience influenced my current work by giving me the skills necessary to excel in research. While researching the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease, I gained essential qualitative skills and learned how to critically evaluate research methods in order to develop protocols that led to reliable and valid outcomes. I also learned about the necessity of grit and perseverance in research; my team and I spent several months tweaking our methods and keeping detailed records in order to optimize our protocol. Dr. Chiba-Falek, Dr. Colton and Dr. Gottshalk, our mentors in the Department of Neurology, encouraged our full participation in the research process and during team meetings, helping us grow in a supportive and constructive environment

My Bass Connections project completely defined my Duke experience and instilled in me a love of research that has informed my current work at the University of Michigan as well as inspired my future career and educational goals. I am currently applying to medical school and hope to continue contributing to innovative and interdisciplinary research that improves the lives of others.