Ashley Howes

Home Country: Anderson, Indiana, USA

Role in Graduate Student Government: Grants Officer

Reason behind joining the GSG as an officer: I joined GSG to assist students in accessing resources to conduct research and develop professional skills through on-campus organizations.

As an officer in the GSG, how would you like to contribute in such a way that you improve the situation for graduate students?: In my role as grants officer, it is my aim to enhance communication and transparency throughout the GSG grant approval process. To achieve this, I plan to create grant writing workshops and resources to elevate the quality of grant applications submitted by research-focused graduate students and graduate student organizations. Since the nature of grant applications can vary based on their intended use, and recognizing that many graduate students may not have prior experience with grant writing, I am committed to producing a comprehensive handbook that will enable them to write successful grant applications with assurance.

Long-Term Career Goals: I am currently pursuing my Master’s degree in Microbiology and aspire to work for a pharmaceutical company to develop drugs and therapies for people infected with drug-resistant pathogens.

Involvement in clubs and other organizations: Horticulture Club and Backcountry Squatters

Research at UMaine: My research focuses on understanding the relationship between antibiotic resistant mycobacteria and the bacteriophages that infect them.

Hobbies: Traveling, Hiking, Cooking, Writing and Video Games