Moira Alejandra La Fuente

When and how did you realize that you wanted to study Genetics & Genomics?

When I interned at an In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) clinic, my fascination for how cells and their genes interact to develop a functioning organism began. I was impressed by how such small biological molecules can define the sex of a person or even which color their eyes would be. My curiosity on what a gene is and how it works lead me to pursue a career in STEM to further understand the genetics of an organism.
It wasn’t until I took an Introduction to Genetics class with Dr. Laramie Lemon that I decided to add a major in Genetics. Her passion in explaining classical genetics was transmitted to me, as one could clearly see how excited she was about this field of study. She incorporated real-life case studies in her lectures which provided examples of how genetics impacts people’s daily lives. This only furthered my curiosity in learning how these mechanisms worked.

Why did you choose the Genetics & Genomics Ph.D. program at A&M?

The interdisciplinarity of the program was what drew me into choosing to pursue the Genetics & Genomics Ph.D. at Texas A&M. After interviewing at A&M in February, I was captivated by the diversity of topics that different laboratories focus their research on. Another aspect of the program that attracted me was the culture that TAMU has. I was surprised by how welcoming and supportive everyone was from the beginning. Having this friendly colleague environment played a big role in my decision-making process for my doctorate degree.

If you were free to choose anything, what research question/topic would you like to address for your graduate studies?

Having to narrow down a single research question to dedicate my whole graduate studies to is a hard task, as I am interested in many topics revolving Genetics. However, I have always been curious about human genetics, especially those revolving reproductive systems and inheritance. Anything that involves heredity and embryology catches my attention, especially since I have previously worked in an In Vitro Fertilization laboratory.

Fun Facts:

• Do you have any hidden talents? If so, what are they.

I held the Bolivian national record for speed reading in 2017, with my fastest reading proficiency being 46,100+ words per minute with 100% comprehension.

• Do you have any pets? If so, please tell us about them.

I have a Golden Retriever named Archie back home in Bolivia. He is 6 years old and is the nicest dog you will ever meet in your life.

• Favorite place you have travelled to.

For my 15th birthday, instead of doing a typical Quinceañera party, my mom and I decided to travel to Europe for a month. I visited different countries, but my favorite place by far was Florence, Italy. Not only was the food great, but the views and places we visited were amazing.