Baltimore, Md. – Our next Senior Spotlight goes to Keira Mull, a biology major with a pre-professional concentration. Mull joined NDMU's first ever outdoor track and field team in 2019, and was looking forward to finishing out her career this spring.
Mull has left a big name for herself at Notre Dame, being apart many clubs and organizations, while keeping her academics booming. Impressively, Mull has made the Dean's List at NDMU every single semester, while also being an Elizabeth Morrissy Honors Program Scholar. In addition, she has also received the Biology Departmental Award two years in a row (2019 and 2020). Mull is in several honors societies, including, Beta Beta Beta (Biological Honors Society), Delta Epsilon Sigma (Scholastic Honors Society), Kappa Mu Epsilon (Mathematics Honors Society), and Chi Alpha Sigma (National College Athlete Honors Society). In addition to her outstanding academic achievements, Mull has done it all while being a Resident Assistant, a biology and chemistry peer tutor, while also serving as an honor board chair.
During the summer of 2018, Mull had the opportunity to travel to South Korea and conducted biological research for 10-weeks. The research focused on developing species-specific markers for an endangered fish species using environmental DNA as a monitoring method. During this research, Mull received many research awards such as: first place in the Environmental Sciences at the 2019 National Collegiate Honors Council in New Orleans, first place in Biological Sciences at the 21
st Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Chemical and Biological Sciences at University of Maryland Baltimore County, and BEYA Student Research Award at the 34
th BEYA STEM Conference (2020).
Mull is currently a research intern in Dr. Paul A Fuchs' lab, working under Dr. Megan Wood. In the coming months, they hope to publish their findings about how acoustic trauma affects synapses in the cochlea.
Following graduation, Mull plans to take a year off, then apply to medical school to eventually become a pediatrician.
Why did you choose NDMU?
I choose NDMU because of the small classroom sizes. I know that I thrive in environments where I am able to get to know the professors and I am not just a number on the roster. I feel NDMU has amazing professors who are able to guide and help you through your journey at Notre Dame.
What is your favorite memory at NDMU?
My favorite memories at Notre Dame include the events where we are a community, whether that be mid-night breakfast, Christmas Dinner, 100 nights. Having these opportunities to gather with my friends and just have fun and take a break from studying added to my experience at Notre Dame.
What is the community like here at Notre Dame?
The community at Notre Dame is genuinely a family. We encourage one another and support each other in both the good times and bad. Because of the loving atmosphere, I have been able to expand my horizons and learn from people with different experiences and beliefs than my own.
What was the best part about being a student-athlete?
The best part about being a student-athlete is the team. I am part of the Track and Field team at Notre Dame and the other team members make the practices better. We all encourage each other on and off the field. More experienced athletes gave me advice and took the time to explain drills whereas I tutored a few of my team members. However, the endless laughs and inside jokes make me want to see my team for even for 6:00 am practice.
What is your favorite memory with your team?
My favorite memory with my team is all the laughter that we had on and off the field. Practices were always full of laughs whether people were laughing with me or at me because of my clumsiness.
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