Congratulations to Erin Schuette, who was selected as the 2026 Spring CBC/Biochemistry Outstanding Senior, CBC/Biochemistry Excellence in Research Recipient, Ronald Gonzalez Wildcat Spirit Awardee, and second place for her poster in the thesis category!
Erin Schuette is graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and a minor in Health and Human Values. On campus, she has been involved with Women in Medicine and STEM, College of Science Ambassadors, CBC Ambassadors and Peer Mentors, Links Junior Honorary, and Pickleball Club. Erin served as the EveryBODY Arizona President for two years, volunteered at Banner in the Dietitian Services and Neurology Departments, interned with Camp Wellness, and supported students as an Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry preceptor. Her passion for research first led her to work in the Churko Lab, where she grew stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes with CRISPR-based genetic knockouts and collaborated on proteomics projects with the Gundry Lab at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Financial support from the Biology Research Abroad: Vistas Open Grant allowed Erin to conduct a summer of research at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, studying muscle metabolism with Dr. Ochala. For her senior thesis, driven by passions for health humanities and biochemistry, she worked with Dr. Coletta to study genetic and socioeconomic factors of Type II diabetes outcomes in Latino populations. Erin has been awarded numerous accolades for her achievements, including the Excellence in Biochemistry Award, Michael Cusanovich Galileo Circle Scholarship, and the W.A. Franke Honors College Research and Creative Inquiry Award. With acceptance into the University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson through the Honors Early Assurance Program (HEAP), she will continue following her passions for improving clinical and research access for underserved populations and increasing weight stigma awareness and body neutrality in medical education. Erin is incredibly grateful to all of the advisors, professors, mentors, peers, and family who have supported her throughout her undergraduate journey; she would not be where she is or who she grew to be without you!