Reno Reporter

Kimberly Giannantonio, a chemistry major at the University of Nevada, Reno, moved from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to UNR following her first semester.

Giannantonio is a member of the inaugural class of Nevada students participating in Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC). The group seeks to broaden diversity in the biomedical sciences and assists students in applying to and transferring into higher degree programs with a strong research component, according to a Dec. 21 university press release.

“I’d always wanted to go to UNR, I toured it in 2019, and I love the campus,” Giannantonio said.

Pre-medical biochemistry was Giannantonio's original major. She recently changed it to chemistry. When she was required to complete a project on science vocations in the eighth grade, she was introduced to biochemistry. She decided then that she wanted to study medical chemistry.

Giannantonio said starting college during COVID was difficult and that she is thriving at UNR, according to the release.

In June 2022, Giannantonio joined associate professor Wes Chalifoux chemistry department's research lab. She has learned how to be more structured and detail-oriented by applying research techniques in other areas.

“I’ve applied it to a lot of my classes,” she said. “That’s helped so much, being super meticulous in my reports and writing down everything, that attention to detail has really helped me in a lot of my classes and day-to-day life.”

Giannantonio also finds time to connect with her peers and network through Chabad, a recently formed Jewish organization on campus, as well as Phi Delta Epsilon, a student fraternity, the release stated. She said it might not seem to make sense why she’s still in the fraternity but said that her interest is still in medicinal chemistry.

“It helps me understand what I’m going to be working with, working for, working towards through medicinal chemistry and make connections with future doctors,” Giannantonio said.