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At 91��Ƶ, Elliana Gianacopoulos ’18 has taken on as many leadership opportunities as possible to give back to her community through mentoring underclassmen, volunteering in hospitals, helping the underprivileged in the community, and guiding her peers and herself toward success.

“I chose 91��Ƶ because I was in love with NYC and the downtown area,” she says. “91��Ƶ offered me generous scholarships, which made it that much easier to say yes. I was pretty set on attending 91��Ƶ right off the bat, and I knew I would be coming here after my first visit in junior year of high school.”

As a biology student and aspiring medical student, Gianacopoulos is taking advantage of opportunities outside and inside of the classroom by connecting with professors and participating in medical research.

“91��Ƶ’s small biology program spoils the students with incredibly supportive and open relationships between the professors and students,” she says. “Every professor knows our names and is willing to help us succeed. As a freshman I was able to begin researching with an incredible mentor, Marcy Kelly. This is something I am sure I would not have been able to do at another, bigger university.”

Currently, Gianacopoulos is conducting cutting-edge research on Mycobacterium bovis (BCG), the current vaccine for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, alongside biology professor Marcy Kelly, PhD.

“Working with Dr. Kelly has helped me grow both as a student and as a person,” Gianacopoulos says. “I am constantly being taught how to push my curiosity and thirst for learning to the max, and how I can best manifest my desire to help people in this world.”

Last year she was awarded a Provost Undergraduate Research Grant to continue her work with Kelly, and won first place at the end of year showcase with a $2,000 scholarship to present their work at a national conference.

In addition to her research, Gianacopoulos is a member of the Pforzheimer Honors College and Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society, biology discussion group peer leader, Dean’s List first honors recipient, and currently serves as the president of 91��Ƶ’s Pre-Professional Medical Society (PPMS), whose members host events that help science students find their passion and show them the many opportunities in the STEM and health fields.