Torrey Lind

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

What drew me to L&C was the sense of individualism and exploration amongst students which fostered a unique community and passion. I liked that I was required to take a variety of classes outside of my major such as Indian philosophy, neurochemistry, and computer science, which expanded my intellectual capabilities in a variety of ways. In terms of research, I liked that I could conduct independent research as early as my sophomore year and that I would be trained not by a graduate student but by professors themselves.

What have you been doing since graduation?

Since graduation, I have been employed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. Here my group focuses on engineering microorganisms to produce chemicals and fuels to replace existing incumbent petrochemical processes. Using synthetic biology techniques, I tinker with the metabolism of the organism such that I can increase the yields, rates, and titers of the chemicals we are trying to produce in order to then license the strains to our industry partners who will scale the technology for commercial production.

Congratulations on being a published coauthor in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One. Can you tell us about your research with Professor Sharon Torigoe?

I started working in Dr. Torigoe’s lab summer of 2020 just as COVID had inundated our lives. I was drawn to her research given my interest in epigenetics and understanding the fundamental principles of development as it relates to disease and medicine. Entering my senior year, I undertook a honors thesis investigating the genetic elements coordinating stem cell function and development, with a key emphasis on the frameworks sustaining pluripotency. By decoding the genetic ‘grammar’ that dictates the arrangement, orientation, and cooperativity of transcription factor (TF) binding sites, my research advanced our understanding of KLF4’s enhancer architecture-a critical TF in cellular differentiation and reprogramming.

What impact did your participation in the research have on your post-graduation opportunities? How did it prepare you for life after Lewis & Clark?

Dr. Torigoe’s mentorship equipped me with an enriched understanding of gene regulation and advanced laboratory methods in genetic engineering—necessary requirements for my work at NREL. I work with a team of post-docs (PhD scientists), and they were all amazed at the level of competency and experience I had coming into my internship, especially considering how small Lewis & Clark is. Indeed, Dr. Torigoe really challenges her students that work in her lab with independence and responsibilities that only a small lab would provide.

What would you say is the most important thing you learned at Lewis & Clark?

The most important lesson I learned at Lewis & Clark is not being afraid to ask questions and pursue what genuinely sparks your curiosity, regardless of what others may be focused on. The college fostered this mindset by offering a flexible curriculum and encouraging deep engagement with both classmates and professors. This environment allowed me to explore my intellectual interests fully, promoting a sense of academic independence and a passion for learning for its own sake.

What was your favorite class? How did it expand your knowledge?

That’s a tough one, as I took so many fantastic classes that I thoroughly enjoyed. One of my favorites was Thinking, Memory, and Problem Solving, taught by Dr. Bill in the psychology department. The course had a profound impact on me because of its direct application to my everyday life. It expanded my understanding of how the mind constructs knowledge, processes information, and solves problems. This insight has been incredibly eye-opening, as it’s helped me not only in academic settings but also in how I approach challenges and decision-making in my day-to-day life.

Where did you find your community on campus?

College Outdoors!

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Neuroscience