The CEIRR Network proudly spotlights Cosette Schneider, a Ph.D. Candidate and trainee in Dr. Lynda Coughlan’s Lab, part of CRIPT. Schneider was awarded first place for her poster titled, “The characterization of cellular and humoral immune responses to influenza A virus” at the CEIRR Annual Network Meeting 2024 in New York City, NY.

Schneider enjoys training in the CEIRR Network because of the program’s emphasis on collaboration, “which have greatly supported [her] thesis research.” Prior to her Ph.D. training at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, she developed mRNA- and protein nanoparticle-based vaccines for malaria as an ORISE Postbaccalaureate Research Fellow at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. This fellowship helped her “identify vaccinology and antigen engineering as [her] primary research interests.” As she progresses through her Ph.D. program and continues her research, Schneider is “motivated by the fact that [her] research informs the development of vaccines for a virus of pandemic potential because [she] firmly believe[s] in the importance of preventative measures for infectious diseases and the role of vaccines as ‘weapons of mass protection.’”

The iDPCC also asked Schneider to answer some thought-provoking questions:

1. Who/what inspired you to go into science in general?

A. I attended a small liberal arts college, so my undergraduate studies were quite diverse, including an emphasis on French and international politics and policy, in addition to the life sciences. Although my educational background is multidisciplinary, I continued to pursue the sciences in my graduate studies because scientific knowledge is always evolving at such a rapid pace, which, to me, is ideal for lifelong learning.

2. What is one thing on your bucket list?  

A. I want to travel to 30 countries by the time I am 30. I have travelled to 17 countries in the past 5 years, and I have 5 more years to go! Hopefully, some international conferences will help me achieve my goal!

3. What was your childhood dream job?

A. My dream job was something new every day! Some longer-lived dream jobs included a firefighter, veterinarian, pilot, forensic scientist, and pediatric oncologist.

4. What are your plans following your training?

A. After I complete my Ph.D., I want to pursue postdoctoral training in an academic lab focused on structural biology, antigen and vaccine platform engineering, and/or rational vaccine design. 

5. What is your favorite mundane lab chore?  

A. My favorite mundane chore is to update our lab’s notice board with colorful, cheesy flyers about our lab’s accomplishments.