Tori Morris Accepted into Doctoral Program at UTMB
MBU senior, Tori Morris, will pursue her dream this fall as she begins her doctoral program at the University Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) to study Human Pathophysiology and Translational Medicine. For Tori, this opportunity is both a personal accomplishment and an answer to prayer.
In May, Tori will graduate with a BS in Biochemistry, one of Maranatha’s newly launched degree programs within the Department of Applied Science.
As a teenager, Tori knew she wanted to pursue medical research in order to help people and save lives. Her training at UTMB will help put her one step closer to fulfilling her dream.
To equip her for graduate programs, Tori knew she needed hands-on experience before applying. “My MBU professors had encouraged me since freshman year that lab experience was vital to my future applications. I’m so thankful for their continual guidance.” In the spring of 2018, Tori was chosen to intern at the University of Georgia and to serve as a full-time lab assistant at the Center for Applied Genetic Technologies. The letters of recommendation from her Maranatha professors, along with her work helping fellow researchers complete their doctoral theses, improved Tori’s chances of getting into a competitive graduate program.
In the fall of 2018, Tori began her search for graduate programs. She applied to eight different schools and was interviewed at several of the universities. Tori declined two offers before making her decision to attend UTMB. She explained that other universities were suggesting programs that didn’t align with her passion for healthcare-related research.
“I want to do research geared toward healthcare. My preference is to work in microbiology and immunology research because I want to study common healthcare diseases and decreasing antibiotic resistance.”
Tori is one of three cohorts admitted into her specific program, which will cover the complete cost of her education in addition to paying a monthly stipend. She will study and work at UTMB for the next five years and will acquire her Ph.D. in Human Pathophysiology and Translational Medicine upon completion.
UTMB is located in Galveston, TX. Tori explained she is excited about living in a smaller town and studying with a smaller group of students because it is similar to the environment at MBU.
“From the start, I knew I wanted to attend a school in a smaller community because it’s what I prefer and it’s what I’m used to. When I visited UTMB, you could tell that everyone knew everybody.”
“My end goal is to help find answers and better treatment plans for hospitals. I want to study science with a purpose.”