Jasper Makowski of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, is the Outstanding Graduating Student in the College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences. He is majoring in microbiology and is a member of the Honors College. He was able to expand his skillset in the lab and his knowledge of healthcare environments by securing internships and part-time work with two medical facilities and UMaine’s Maginnis Lab. Working closely with associate professor of microbiology Melissa Maginnis, who was not only his advisor and lab director but also a positive influence and mentor in his life, he researched signaling mechanisms in viruses and learned about a range of diseases. Makowski is a student organizer for the Maine Day Meal Packout, an experience that fortified his belief that change can spark from one person’s passion. Outside of academics, he retreats to the Maine outdoors and enjoys a variety of activities, from backpacking to fly fishing. After he graduates, he is pursuing a medical degree with plans to return to rural Maine as a primary care provider.
Why did you choose to come to UMaine?
I chose to come to UMaine for the research opportunities and sense of community
Describe any research, internships or scholarly pursuits in which you have participated. How have they prepared you for future opportunities in your chosen field?
I have been involved as an undergraduate research assistant in the Maginnis Lab on campus since freshman year, where I have researched signaling mechanisms in JC and BK polyomavirus. I have also been part of the Phage Genomics RLE. I did a summer internship at Dahl-Chase Pathology Services last summer, and I work part-time as a medical assistant at Penobscot Valley Dermatology. The research experiences have developed my science communication, problem solving and lab procedure skills, to name a few. The internship and work as a medical assistant have given me valuable clinical experience, highlighted the realities and inner workings of healthcare and given me the opportunity to learn about a vast range of different diseases.
Have there been other students who supported and inspired you or exposed you to something new?
There have been so many students who have supported me and made my success possible. Notably, my partner Maddie Stockman has always been there for me. A previous student in the Maginnis Lab, Aiden Pike set a very high standard both professionally and personally, and I often reach out to him for career advice. Other people include Connor Aylesworth and Keegan Tripp.
Have you collaborated with a mentor, professor or role model who made your time at UMaine better, and if so, how?
Yes, yes, yes. I have been under the wonderful advising of Dr. Melissa Maginnis for the last four years, and I can’t sing her praises loud enough. She has been my mentor in the lab, helping me gain research experience, apply to grants and internships and develop experiments. She has also helped me throughout my academic career, guiding me in both classes and the medical school application process. Dr. Maginnis is a huge positive influence in my personal life, supporting me in all of my endeavors and goals.
What has coming to UMaine enabled you to explore beyond academics?
Coming to UMaine has allowed me to explore the outdoors. I have enjoyed backpacking trips with friends, many weekends hiking up in Baxter or down in Acadia, fly fishing in nearby bodies of water and countless hours running and biking on all of the trails near campus. I feel like I try to do a little bit of everything that UMaine has to offer, but I am definitely drawn to the outdoors.
Have you received any scholarships that supported you on your journey?
I have been generously supported by the Worthington Scholarship, the Chet Jordan Leadership Scholarship and other various scholarships, in addition to commitments from UMaine.
What experiences have you had at UMaine that really highlight the ingenuity of Mainers?
Maine Day Meal Packout highlights the ingenuity of Mainers and UMaine students. The initiative started about a decade ago, when students recognized that many communities in our state have high levels of food insecurity. Wanting to do something to address this issue, students fundraised to purchase ingredients to create shelf-stable, nutrient dense meals through a program called End Hunger New England. These meals are packed by student and community volunteers during Maine Day of Service, then distributed around the state. Fast forward about a decade and the project has funded over 800,000 meals for Mainers in need. Students stepping up to address a need truly demonstrates the ingenuity of Mainers.
Did you have an experience at UMaine that shaped or changed how you see the world?
My experience as the outreach coordinator with Maine Day Meal Packout has helped shape how I see the world. Being involved with the project has shown me that it takes an army to accomplish something — we have a large leadership team working almost year-round to make the project happen — but all it takes is one person to spark something. Being involved with the project for multiple years has allowed me to watch as people join and share their passion and ideas for food insecurity and to understand that tangible action and change happen because of one individual’s spark and passion.
Describe UMaine in one word and explain.
Hearty.
— For a number of reasons. First, a large reason why I chose the University of Maine was the cheerful and vibrant culture. No where else did it seem like people were so happy to attend a school. You’ll be hard pressed to find another university with a student population that is as wholesome, as robust and as incredible as UMaine. Second, I think you have to be a little hearty to survive the long winters here; six months is a long time under the snow! Third, our hockey fans are loud and proud.
What’s on the horizon? What are your plans for after you graduate?
After I graduate, I will be starting at Tufts University School of Medicine Maine Track in July, where I will earn my MD with the intention to come back to Maine and practice as a PCP in a rural area.
Contact: Ashley Yates, ashley.yates@maine.edu
