When Taran Harris first stepped onto Chapman University as a Master of Science student, she couldn’t imagine how far that initial step could take her. What began as a curiosity about the complexities of protein interactions during her MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences  inspired her to pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy immediately afterward.

“The research experiences I gained during my master’s are now the foundations of my scientific curiosity and success as a Doctor of Pharmacy student,” Taran shares. “It helped me grow confidence as a communicator and as a scientist that can look beyond implications discovered in the lab.”

Her time at CUSP has taken her far, literally. Taran has traveled to national meetings and international symposiums, and presented her research in different continents. “Presenting at conferences taught me to effectively communicate my research findings to a wide range of audiences, and to distill complex information into engaging and understandable presentations.”

Taran’s research journey began in the MSPS program and continues now as a Pharm.D. student. Working under the guidance of Aftab Ahmed, Ph.D., Taran’s research focuses on the proteomics profiles of hemp proteins extracts, investigating their anticancer effects on breast cancer cells. In essence, she studies how proteins (the tiny “building blocks” in our cells) function, change, and interact with other proteins within cells, with the hope of uncovering new cancer therapies.

“My faculty mentors are the ones who make the research I participate in possible,” Taran says. In addition to Ahmed, she also credits Innokentiy “Inno” Maslennikov, Ph.D., and Keykavous Parang, Ph.D., Pharm.D., and other members of her thesis committee for shaping her as a researcher and professional.

When it came time to decide on her next step, Taran wanted to continue her journey at Chapman University. Before starting the program, she revealed that the “Pharm.D. at Chapman University appealed to me because it offers respect, strong earning potential, and opportunities in both industry and clinical settings. This enables me to blend my love of science with my passion for patient care, the best of both worlds.”

Currently amid her time as a Pharm.D. student, Taran is confident that the MSPS and Pharm.D. programs were the right choice for her career goals. “The Pharm.D. has helped me further explore my passion for patient care through my IPPE and APPE rotations. The rigor of the program has taught me resilience that I can translate into all areas of my life, from personal relationships to career excellence goals”.

At CUSP, that blend of research and real-world clinical application is by design. Our faculty develop mentor-mentee relationships and empower open communication with our students. Students like Taran can participate in research with faculty in dedicated wet or dry labs in accordance with their interests. Interested in learning more about earning your degree with CUSP? Click here for more information. 

This article was written by Silas Fernandes.