Alumni Highlight: Grace Bell, CHR Research Assistant
Grace Bell
Biological Sciences, Class of 2025 - now a CHR Research Assistant
"You'll go so much farther if you work out of curiosity rather than just trying to build a resume." - Grace Bell
Before Grace Bell transferred to Cal Poly from community college, her academic life was mostly confined to the classroom. One piece of her parents' advice changed that: you never know who might take a chance on you if you just ask.
Acting on it, Grace sought out CHR and connected with CHR Senior Research Affiliate Suzanne Phelan to pursue her interest in maternal health. By asking to get involved, she gained hands-on experience with electronic medical records and immunoassay protocols that went well beyond her coursework.
That initiative led to her participation in the Frost Summer Undergraduate Research Program with another CHR Senior Research Affiliate, Sarah Keadle, where she contributed to physical activity research. The role continued part-time through the academic year, and she helped develop a pilot study and presented with peers at an academic conference.
Her undergraduate research path came full circle when she returned to work with Suzanne Phelan on a community health study involving women farmworkers. Today, she holds a post-baccalaureate staff research assistant position in CHR Director Alison Ventura's Healthy Kids Lab, studying how maternal technology use affects infant development.
Grace values the technical skills she gained, but she's most grateful for the mentorship and relationships along the way. Her advice to students weighing graduate school: get involved in research early. It strengthens a resume, she says, but more importantly, it demonstrates initiative, knowledge, and the ability to navigate complex projects.
This fall, Grace begins the next chapter of her career: she has been accepted into Cuesta College's nursing program. Her research experience at CHR — from immunoassay protocols to maternal and community health studies — gives her a strong scientific foundation as she moves toward clinical practice.
