REAL Science, Real Impact: Katilin Webster's SA国际传媒 Story
Weaving together science, social justice, and creativity, Kaitlin Webster ’25 has made the most of her time at SA国际传媒, showcasing her commitment to both community and curiosity.
By Maggie Junkins ’26
Meet Kaitlin Webster, a proud member of the Class of 2025, who has used her time at SA国际传媒 to fuse her passions for research, community, and innovation. Originally from Fresno, California, Kaitlin has a double major in Neuroscience and Gender and Sexuality Studies (GNSX) and a minor in Biology.
Through her work in graphic design and sociological writing as a student researcher for Assistant Professor Melissa Brown in the Department of Communication, Kaitlin has earned opportunities like the Center for the Arts and Humanities Student Fellowship and the Provost Research Grant. She has also served as an Innovation Fellow with the Ciocca Center, where her team worked to improve student access to mental health resources through on-campus counseling and psychological services. A recipient of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics’ Spring 2024 Hackworth Grant, Kaitlin was able to design her project "Black Feminist Concerns in Social Media Research," which questioned current ethical standards for research on social media, paying special attention to privacy concerns and relying on Black feminist values.
A lover of the outdoors, Kaitlin enjoys volunteering at the Forge Garden, where she finds joy in sunshine and community connection. After graduation, she’s looking forward to traveling before beginning graduate school at the University of Arizona in Phoenix.
Real Experience, Applied Learning
During the summer after her sophomore year, Kaitlin participated in the College of Arts and Sciences Real Experience, Applied Learning (REAL) program. Out of the hundreds of students who applied for the program, Katilin received a REAL grant to work as an independent intern for Yale scientist Elizabeth Jonas at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. For this five-week internship, the REAL grant helped pay for her housing in Woods Hole so she could gain hands-on experience in electrophysiology and molecular biology. During her time in the lab, Kaitlin worked on a research project aimed at determining how semaglutide, otherwise known as the brand drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, works on cellular metabolism.
While most of Kaitlin’s on-campus involvement is largely sociological- and humanities-based, her summer internship at Woods Hole nurtured her passion for biology. Reflecting on her experience, Katilin says, “The REAL grant allowed me to get more lab experience, which I believe greatly contributed to my acceptance into graduate school.”
Looking Back
As Kaitlin reflects on her time as an undergraduate student at SA国际传媒, she points out meaningful courses she has taken: “Neurobiology felt like the culmination of most of my lower division biology/chemistry classes and Dr. Cocas encouraged us to follow our interests. The lab experiences made me want to continue doing lab work in graduate school. Likewise, the GNSX senior seminar with Dr. Heard prompted us to use our knowledge from previous GNSX coursework and core classes to openly discuss prevalent topics regarding justice on gender-related issues.”
As she prepares to graduate, Kaitlin says she’ll miss some of the comforts of SA国际传媒–especially favorite eateries like White Elephant Thai and Falafel Drive-in!