Animal Science Major, Preveterinary Medicine/Research Option
Ankita's academic journey was introduced to the SEBS community in the Spring 2017 issue of Explorations. Ankita began working in Dr. Nicholas Bello's lab while a first-year student and contributed to several projects related to the neural control of feeding and diet selection. She completed her George H. Cook Scholars thesis on taste sensitivity and preferences using the Engrailed 2 mouse, an animal model for Autism Spectrum Disorder.
In addition to excelling in academics and immersing herself in research, Ankita pursued opportunities to teach (TA, FIGS Peer Instructor); lead (SEBS Governing Council); develop professionally (Alpha Zeta, veterinary assistant, summer intern); and give back to the community.
In the Explorations article, Ankita was quoted as saying: "My mentors in this department showed me that I want to be a veterinarian but also pursue research as well." Now pursuing that goal as a DVM/PhD student in comparative biomedical sciences at the North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, she was recently awarded a year-long fellowship to study diagnostic markers of osteoarthritis-associated pain in Alaskan sled dogs. After graduation, Ankita plans to do a small-animal rotating internship and a surgical residency before joining academia as a researcher and small animal surgeon.
