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Taralyn "Tari" Tan, a senior in biochemistry/biophysics, prepares DNA samples for testing in a research lab in Withycombe Hall Monday. Tan has been selected as one of 20 second team All-American scholars by USA Today as part of its All-USA College Academic Team.

Accolades, award for OSU senior

Passion for research, learning drives biochemistry/biophysics Tari Tan to All-USA College Team

By: Tara Pistorese

Posted: 2/26/08

Tari Tan, a senior in biochemistry and biophysics, was given USA Today's second team award in the 19th annual All-USA College Academic Team program.

Tan has been involved in academic and community achievements throughout her college career, including founding a sorority, acquiring a variety of academic awards and studying abroad.

"Sigma Delta Omega is a sorority for women in science on campus and I actually founded it my sophomore year," Tan said, "so I am currently president of that. Coming up, April 5th is going to be our 2-year anniversary. It's been a great opportunity and it has really connected people. We have about 44 members and pledges right now."

In order to be eligible for the All-USA College Academic Team award, a student must first be nominated. They must then submit an application, three letters of reference and an essay discussing their greatest intellectual endeavor as an undergraduate.

Tan has been working closely with Fred Stormshak, a distinguished professor emeritus in the department of animal sciences, on a research project for three years.

"It's been a very tedious project and there have been a lot of disappointments with it but to her credit, she hasn't given up on it," Stormshak said.

Tan used the research she had completed for the project as the topic for her application essay.

"I wrote about how that was a big factor in deciding to go into neuroscience. The thing that has been most important to me has been my research," Tan said. "So I'm glad I wrote about that and that that was able to carry me to the award."

Another part of the application process required students to list all student involvement in community activities, internships and professional development.

"I actually mentioned founding the sorority and being president of that as leadership on campus and community service. I also included my internship in India last summer," Tan said.

In addition to winning the All-USA College Academic Award, Tan has won a Goldwater National Scholarship - given to the top students in science and engineering - and was one of two students last year named "top student" in biochemistry and biophysics.

"I was fortunate over the last three years. I have actually received a few national scholarships so I think that helped me," Tan said.

Tan was a Howard Hughes Medical Institute research fellow during the summer of 2006.

"She really did an outstanding job in that capacity," Stormshak said. "She gave her report at the end of that summer and was the best speaker out of the population of Howard Hughes Medical Institute scholars for that particular summer."

Tan was nominated for the award by Kevin Ahern, a senior instructor in biochemistry and biophysics at OSU.

Ahern has been Tan's academic advisor at OSU for three years. He is also the director of the summer undergraduate research program Tan is involved in.

"She has an incredible drive to succeed, she's competitive, and - I mentioned this in my letter - she has outstanding insights for research. Tari has been thinking like a graduate student since she was a freshman," Ahern said.

Tan's decision to pursue a degree in biochemistry and biophysics was sparked in high school.

"My sophomore high school chemistry class was what made me go into chemistry. The first day of class, my teacher performed color-changing reactions to hook us, and it definitely worked for me," Tan said.

When she applied for school, Tan had to make the decision to major either in chemistry or biochemistry. At the time she was pre-med, and biochemistry proved the more logical route.

"She's an outstanding student, she's an outstanding person, she's very creative, she does it all," Ahern said.

Tan was a pre-med student up until last term when she decided to pursue a Ph.D in neuroscience.

"Last year I had taken a few neuroscience classes and I absolutely loved it," Tan said. "Since I was still pre-med at that point I was thinking 'maybe neurology,' but the difference between neurology and going into research as a neuroscience major are completely different."

Tan took an interview class through the honors college where she was asked to describe her reason for choosing a career in medicine.

"I decided that I didn't really have any passion for medicine, it was the whole aspect of going to medical school to learn about all these things, because I love learning," Tan said.

Tan was also a teaching assistant in biochemistry where she realized her passion for teaching and research.

"She is very talented and will do a very good job in that respect," Stormshak said.

Tan is commonly described by those close to her as very friendly, dedicated and extremely intelligent.

"Tari is the type of person that comes in one in a million I think, in terms of potential and everything," Stormshak said, "I've been here for forty years and as an undergraduate, I've never seen anybody that's more talented than she is."

Tara Pistorese, news writer

news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231