Hunter Ernstberger SEBS'25

What Role Have Lab and Research Experiences Played in Your Education?

I can not say enough good things about the Microbiology undergraduate program at SEBS. It was an incredibly rewarding experience that I truly believe prepared me for what’s next in this field.

The courses expanded on concepts that helped me to develop a deeper understanding of microbiology and biochemistry. All of the labs were very hands-on and helped me to become familiar with techniques, practices, and modern equipment. I participated in two different external internships during my time at Rutgers where I stood apart from my peers because of the skills I had gained from these lab courses. Winning best sauerkraut in Applied Micro was one of the great highlights of my college experience.

I was able to work full time over the summer at a pharmaceutical company and feel perfectly at home in the microbiology department because of this training. I, like many other students in my major, was involved in a research lab where I was given a lot of freedom to explore what I was interested in. It is a great feeling when you can take what you learned in the classroom and apply it. This was paramount in my decision to attend graduate school. There are a multitude of opportunities and resources students can take advantage of that go beyond the core curriculum. I did not know what to expect before I came to Rutgers but this was the best choice I could have made. If you want to pursue microbiology, you can’t go wrong!