Thanks to an Iowa State graduate, Misty Perez ended up in the University of Iowa Biomedical Science Program. During her undergraduate research at Whittier College in California, the Cyclone researcher suggested she check out Iowa. 

“What’s Iowa?” she had asked, cringing as she said it.

He didn’t elaborate. And as Misty began investigating Iowa, she never got past her search results of the University of Iowa. She applied for some summer research programs and was accepted to the Iowa Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP). Misty lived in Currier Hall with students from all across the country and across different areas of studies. She spent two months in a lab with Dr. Wallrath and for the first time did research on fruit flies whereas before she had only worked with cells. Misty loved the campus, loved the modern labs and was impressed with the people she encountered.

“Wow, the people are so nice here!”

Misty returned home to Whittier California, just east of Los Angeles, and gushed about Iowa to her mom who was not as enthusiastic and told her daughter she needed to look at more programs. And she did, interviewing at Brown and the University of Illinois. But her preference for Iowa did not fade and neither did her mother’s reluctance. But her interview here sealed the deal.

“When I met Matt (Potthoff), who’s my current PI, I was like I don’t care about any other schools,” she said.

Misty visibly brightened when she talked about her research and her lab “family.” Her research has involved the study of a naturally occurring hormone in the liver and how it impacts the brain, particularly in the context of alcohol use disorders. When injected into mice or monkeys, there is a dramatic reduction in their alcohol intake. Because she has family members who have struggled with alcohol use, the research is especially pertinent to her. Why does the hormone affect the brain this way? That is the big question. They still don’t know the why.

Her favorite part about being a graduate student? She answered without hesitation. “My lab. The people. My lab family.” The lab has an open space concept, which Misty admits is not for everyone, but it works for them. It has created a fun, collaborative environment. And it doesn’t end there. She and her lab mates have lunch together every day and after they leave the lab, hang out some more, playing trivia or pickleball and going downtown. Some of her other interests outside the lab are reading, attending events at Prairie Lights Books, pickleball and weekend getaways.

Asked about her biggest role model, Misty chose her parents, her father staying strong during a two-year battle with cancer, to which he succumbed last year. After mulling it over, she switched gears, choosing her younger sister, her only sibling.

“My sister is the strongest person I know. She has gone through so much and she’s so young. She stayed strong through all of it. She lost her dad her junior year in college and somehow managed to graduate. She’s just incredible. I don’t give her enough credit for it. I should call her!”

Advice for incoming graduate students? Seek out a seasoned graduate student who worked in the lab they are considering. “Ask if they could go back in time if they would go back to that lab.” It’s all about taking the time to find the right fit, she added.