Katie Lee is a third year PhD student in the Cell and Molecular Biology Program, and her advisor is Dr. Douglas Rhoads in the Biological Sciences Department. Her research is focused on the genetic determinants of a disease called ascites that occurs in poultry species using chickens as our model. Specifically, she worked on a two-year project using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes of interest, genotyping the existing breeder chickens at the research farm, selecting for two generations to ensure that all the offspring of the second generation had those SNPs, and then assessing the effect on ascites incidence as well as the growth of the bird. The goal of her work is to provide poultry industry geneticists with a method that can be used to reduce ascites incidence in flocks with minimal impact on production traits of economic value. 

She has been the CEMB-GSA Treasurer for two years and have loved getting to know other CEMB students through it. She is also on the Graduate Dean’s Student Advisory Board as a representative of students in Interdisciplinary Studies, which has allowed her to be in meetings with high-ranking officials of the University and discuss the issues facing graduate students at the U of A.

Outside of academics, she loves being outdoors and active. She especially enjoys hiking, kayaking, hammocking, and bonfires. When she has spare time, she also enjoys just relaxing by watching movies with her husband Trevor, their two dogs (Lucas and Sadie), and thier cat (Gary). Her husband is also a graduate student, so finding time to slow down is nice. 

For students considering graduate school, her biggest piece of advice is to blaze your own path, don’t feel like you’re tied down to one area of study, and be clear about what you want. Surround yourself with others who believe in you. 

Her bachelor’s degree was in Biosystems Engineering. However, her path now is different as she found an advisor who saw her desire to learn and a strong work ethic rather than being overly concerned about the classes she took as an undergraduate. Recently, a guest in the GDSAB meeting said something that she wrote down and keep on her desk: “If you want the moon, ask for the moon. No one will ever know that that’s where you’re going if you only ever ask for rocket fuel.”