Leslie Lupien ’10 developed a passion for science at a young age, a passion that grew exponentially as a student and continued as a Ph.D. candidate studying cancer metabolism in the Experimental and Molecular Medicine Program at Dartmouth College.
“My affinity for the sciences continued through high school and was fostered as a biology major and through a research fellowship in Professor Colby Davie’s lab,” said Lupien, who is in the final stages of earning her Ph.D. “I originally planned to become a physician, but over the course of lab work became enthralled by the idea of developing treatments for a disease that impacts almost everyone in some way.”
Lupien, who played basketball for Assumption, is also a semiprofessional cyclist and model for Velocio, a cycling apparel company. “Having cycling as an outlet actually helps me maintain motivation and focus for the lab,” she said. “In a way, cycling and lab work are also similar. Both research and high-level bike racing require resilience and adherence to the path.”
Lupien is grateful for the “diversity of learning” she received through her liberal arts education. “I earned a degree in biology, but took a full curriculum that included significant social science work,” she said. “I learned how to think critically, be objective, troubleshoot, and communicate effectively. Those skills are immeasurably useful regardless of your ultimate profession. … I feel fortunate to have crossed paths with several exceptional professors at Assumption. … There were professors who challenged me to do more, see more, aspire to more than I thought possible.”
