Marcus Kaplan, B.S. 2011

2011 Major: Chemistry (concentration in Pharmacology)

How has being a Chemistry graduate from Duke helped shape you personally and/or professionally?

"I grew quite a lot during my time at Duke and was challenged to think and learn in so many different ways as a chemistry major. The pharmacology courses were of course a great head start for my career in pharmacy. Completing bench research taught me so much about time management, how to tackle a big project, and how to collaborate with others who have different expertise or training to achieve a common goal. Being at Duke certainly teaches you to stay humble and "know what you don't know", but without a doubt it also prepares you to succeed and rise to any challenges you face as you move into the next steps of your career."

What advice would you give students in Duke's Chemistry programs? 

"Take advantage of all the opportunities you have available to you as a Duke Chemistry student! There are so many resources and so many amazing people to learn from. You never know who might become a lifelong mentor or what experience might spark a totally new area of interest for you. Keep an open mind about all the different avenues you could take with your chemistry degree after graduation. I did not anticipate where I would ultimately end up professionally when I graduated from Duke but I love what I do now."