Hi, I’m Jana Gomez, currently a fourth year PhD candidate in the Microbiology and Infectious Diseases program at the Graduate School. To expand my writing skills and experience, I have embarked on a new internship program with the Communications team. As my first assignment, I curated a Meet the Staff article about the person I know best — myself! Keep reading to learn about my journey and experience at the Graduate School. 

What do you do day-to-day in your role? 

For my internship, I am working on various projects with the Communications department. I write social media posts, news articles, and stories about the staff (like this one!). I also design graphics for social media and The Essential. 

My graduate research project is under the guidance of Jennifer Walker, PhD at UT Health Houston. I am interested in how MRSA causes urinary tract infections in individuals who are catharized long-term. This population of people are not only more susceptible to getting a urinary tract infection, but are an understudied group in the field at large. Understanding how different pathogens infect these patients will benefit future therapeutic design! 

What are some of your projects? 

I am currently working on establishing a project to highlight new publications written by graduate students, that I will summarize into an accessible format. Not only will this project highlight student achievements — it will also make the research that our students perform approachable to a wider audience. 

What do you like most about working for the Graduate School? 

I have always enjoyed writing and communicating science to the general public, so any opportunity to do so excites me! I am also excited to work with the extremely talented staff at the Graduate School Dean’s Office. 

What are your hobbies outside of work? 

When I’m not writing or in the lab, I enjoy reading, crocheting, and playing video games with my friends! I also enjoy spending time with my husband Josh, my two dogs — Oliver and Ripley, and my cat Bruno. 

What skills do you find most valuable in your work? 

As the name suggests, communication is the most important! I also believe that my many years spent reading and reviewing scientific papers helps me translate complex scientific concepts to a much wider audience.