A native of Brasov, a small city in the Transylvanian region of Romania, Georgeta arrived in Miami less than 2 years ago to pursue her dream of becoming a scientist. The collapse of Ceausescu's communist regime in 1989 brought economic uncertainty which led to a cutback of Romania's medical research enterprise. Because of this, Georgeta and her husband, Constantin , decided to move to the United States where Georgeta could more easily attain her goal of a successful professional career in the sciences.

Just recently, Georgeta became the first recipient of the Diamond Fellowship Award at the University. This award, established by Mrs. Ruth Diamond, in loving memory of her husband, Mr. Harold Diamond, provides exceptionally qualified graduate students like Georgeta a fellowship that covers their stipends.

"This fellowship is tremendously rewarding," says Georgeta, "as it recognizes my long hours of hard work and effort."

For Georgeta the award came after years of intense study.

In 1998, she obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Physics from the University of Bucharest. That same year, she joined the University's Department of Biophysics to earn, in the Spring of 2000, a Masters Degree in Biophysics. Her strong desire to apply her knowledge landed her the opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. at the University of Miami School of Medicine.

As if learning a new language and getting accustomed to a new culture and way of living were not enough, Georgeta had to quickly get used to the demands of her new academic career as a graduate student in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Georgeta's work load consisted of 9 to 13 credits during each of the first three semesters that comprise the first year. She also had to prepare for the Department's required written comprehensive exam, which she passed with excellent results. Just recently, she began her second year of graduate work and has joined Dr. Paul Boehmer's lab where she spends most of her time focusing on understanding the mechanisms of DNA replication. She is working on her thesis project where she will attempt to expand the current knowledge of the mechanisms of helicase action and protein-protein interactions in herpes simples virus type 1.

Once Georgeta completes her studies in the next few years, she would like to land a job in academia either in the United States or in Europe. What motivates such a young woman to work so arduously?

"I am a curious person who wants to understand why things are the way they are and how everything happens," says Georgeta. "This is the reason why I have chosen a scientific career."

There are many motivated and worthy students being educated at the University of Miami. By supporting scholarships, you will have a hand in providing much-needed assistance to hardworking, talented students, like Georgeta.