Melis Kocak ’27

Melis Kocak ’27 | Biology major, Chemistry minor

Women’s Volleyball captain Melis Kocak ’27 plans to earn a Ph.D. in clinical microbiology after Saint Anselm College, which made her involvement in undergraduate research a must. Kocak feels that the close relationships she has cultivated with classmates and professors played a significant role in enriching her overall time on the Hilltop.

What made you choose Saint Anselm?

I chose Saint Anselm because of the tight-knit, community atmosphere and the close relationships you are able to form with classmates and professors. I think you learn a lot from being in small classes where you really get to connect with professors on a different level and learn from their experiences. 

Have you conducted any undergraduate research? 

Yes, my research was in collaboration with Eastern Michigan University and focused on elemental analysis of historical textiles. The historical process involves a three-part complex including the textile itself, the natural dye, and a metal called a mordant to help adhere the dye to the fiber. We were given a reference set of textiles prepared using this historical technique, which is where we obtained the data from. Our main goal was to determine if this mordant was detectible via spectroscopic techniques including Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF). 

Why is analyzing these textiles so important?

This research provides important information for future cultural heritage textile analysis by exemplifying two methods of analysis, what information each can provide, and with what reliability. It will be used in as a framework to analyze legitimate historical samples. 

How did you realize that this was research you wanted to conduct?

I had Professor Mary Kate Donais during my first semester of freshman year and loved her teaching style and approach to one-on-one student work. It was what drew me to her specifically. I knew I was interested in cultural heritage through my summer travels to Turkey, where many active excavation sites are present. When I learned that chemistry was an aspect of this work, I was very interested. 

What is the biggest thing you’ve learned from this research?

I was completely new to research, and so the learning process was a lot of trial and error. I learned how to break down big questions with smaller individual tasks, and I also learned how to troubleshoot technical difficulties. 

Do you feel that it has prepared you for your postgraduate endeavors?

I ultimately want to continue doing research through a Ph.D. program and maybe even as a postdoctoral researcher, so this first research experience helped me get a handle on how research is typically conducted. I also had the opportunity to attend a professional conference to present my research where I got to engage with graduate students, professors, and industry representatives with really interesting insight into different postgraduate experiences. 

What do you hope to pursue after Saint Anselm? 

My Ph.D. in clinical microbiology. 

Why would you recommend students get involved in research at Saint Anselm?

You get a unique opportunity to work basically one-on-one with a professor, and you learn a lot about professionalism and how to work closely with a mentor. The research will also be on a topic that you are interested in, so it really helps you understand what you’re passionate about. 

Do you have any mentors on campus? 

Professor Donais, Professor Carolyn Weinreb, Professor David Guerra, Fr. Basil Franciose, O.S.B., and Professor Matthew Hurley to name a few, but I’ve genuinely loved all of my professors here. 

What are you involved in on campus?

I am the captain of the Women’s Volleyball team here at Saint Anselm, but I am also really passionate about doing yoga!