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Moses Lake grad accepted into Johns Hopkins Ph.D. program

| April 29, 2020 11:19 PM

MOSES LAKE — Marnie Skinner called it the best and worst week.

The 2016 Moses Lake High School graduate had just completed what would end up as her final collegiate softball game on March 8 — a 5-1 win at Towson — when she decided to check her phone while visiting with teammates, coaches and parents afterward.

“The first thing I saw is an email and the subject line was ‘Congratulations on your acceptance into the Johns Hopkins program,’ and so I just looked up to my coach and the rest of my teammates and I was like ‘Oh my gosh, I got in!’” Skinner said. “And everybody was there to celebrate with me and so that was really awesome getting to be with them when I found out because I had so many people around me that I am friends with and stuff that were able to celebrate with me.”

To be exact, Skinner — a current biochemistry major at Iona College — will start her Ph.D. program in biochemistry and molecular biology at the Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health this fall. Like all spring college athletes, Skinner had her final softball season abruptly end, after eight games, due to concerns surrounding the novel coronavirus. She would have been granted an extra year of eligibility, but Skinner’s acceptance into Johns Hopkins simplified her decision.

“The Sunday before we found out our season was canceled was when I got to find out I was accepted into the Ph.D. program and so I already knew about that, and there’s no way that I could pass up that opportunity, and so as soon as our season was canceled I knew that I wouldn’t be able to come back,” she said.

Skinner said that throughout school she had always enjoyed, and done better in, math and science courses. Upon her arrival at Iona, she knew either of those subjects was likely her route and declared as a biochemistry major after her freshman year.

Last June, Skinner and her research partner Reagan Warmouth traveled to Italy to assist Dr. Antonella Fontana and her research team at D’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara. More, the last two summers of Skinner’s research was funded by a scholarship through the Clare Boothe Luce Program by way of the Henry Luce Foundation.

All four years of college, Skinner has been a part of the research group Project Symphony, which is led by Dr. Sunghee Lee.

As a faculty mentor, Lee spoke highly of Skinner.

“Marnie has been in my research group since her freshman year,” Lee wrote in an email. “Over the years of being involved in scientific research, Marnie had plenty of opportunity to learn and experience the life as a scientist by working alongside and receiving advice from me. Combined with her research experience in Italy and numerous presentations at national meetings with other accomplished scientists, Marnie’s desire to pursue an advanced degree has been further solidified.”

During her final months at Iona, Skinner has had to deal with the added wrinkle of finishing her classes online due to the closures brought on by coronavirus.

“It’s been a little weird because I’ve had to do everything online and I’m still finishing up a few of my science classes, one of which requires a lab so I’m not able to be there in person to do labs anymore, so that’s been interesting,” she said.

Skinner said that the cancellation of her softball season allowed for more time to focus on academics, however, she still was disappointed by the open ending.

“I really enjoyed getting to play softball in college,” she said. “I think it was a really good level for me in terms of I got to play pretty competitive ball while it never took away from my ability to still do whatever educationally I wanted to do and I was really with a good class and I really enjoyed the group of girls that I got to play with during my time there and so it’s been a little sad not getting to be with them for our last senior season.”

The COVID-19 outbreak pushed the 11th annual Iona College Scholars Day online; Skinner, a two-time participant prior, didn’t miss a beat and virtually presented her research on the effect of graphene oxide on cellular membranes.

“I have seen many ways in which she handled challenging situations in the past, whether it be dealing with time management, arduous experimental protocol, or delicate handling of scientific instrumentation,” Lee wrote. “Now, with the unusual situation we all face, Marnie once again shows her resiliency and adaptability. She was planning to present her research at the Iona Scholars Day and we had to convert to a virtual format with short notice. Marnie was the first one to submit her video presentation of her research as a part of virtual Iona Scholars Day. She is coping with the situation very well with her extreme patience, calm, and level-headedness.”

As part of a questionnaire done by the Iona athletic department, Skinner — prior to her junior season — said that she wanted to find a job that makes her happy. A year later, Skinner said she still didn’t have an exact profession in mind yet, but knew that she was on the right path and hoped her time at Johns Hopkins would open many doors.

“I have absolutely no doubt Marnie will be successful at Johns Hopkins,” Lee wrote.

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Marnie Skinner makes a presentation on Thesis Day. Skinner is in the honors program at Iona college and all senior honors students are required to assemble and present a thesis during the spring of their senior year. She presented her work on graphene oxide and its effects on cellular membranes.

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Moses Lake High School graduate Marnie Skinner presents some of her research at the American Chemical Society (ACS). As a result of working in Dr. Sunghee Lee’s lab, Skinner was provided the opportunity to attend three ACS national conferences — August of 2017, 2018, and 2019 — to present her work. During the most recent conference, she won the Colloid and Surface Chemistry Division Outstanding Student Poster Award.

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Marnie Skinner smiles during an Iona College softball game. The 2016 Moses Lake High School graduate is headed to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

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Marnie Skinner pitches on the home field at Iona College.

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Courtesy photo Marnie Skinner, a 2016 Moses Lake High School graduate, is headed to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.