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Cheyanne Frosti<\/b><\/h3>\nCheyanne Frosti<\/b><\/h3>\nFrosti matriculated into the <\/span>PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS)<\/span><\/a> in 2021 before joining the <\/span>Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology<\/span><\/a>. She successfully defended her dissertation in March 2026.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Rather than a singular community service project, Frosti\u2019s award recognizes her ongoing commitment to mentorship and community building across multiple spaces on campus, such as PiBS, <\/span>Graduate Women in Science and Engineering (GWISE)<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Summer Training as Research Scholars (STaRS)<\/span><\/a>, and BU FitRec.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Across these programs and campus institutions, Frosti has focused on making the graduate training experience more transparent, supportive, and accessible for incoming and prospective PhD students. She has participated as mentor and panelist in trainee-focused programs to help demystify aspects of graduate school that are often unclear, like applying, choosing a lab, navigating funding, and identifying career paths.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAt its core, this work is about reducing the uncertainty that many trainees face and helping to build a more equitable and welcoming training environment, one where students have access to clear guidance and the resources they need to succeed, regardless of their background,\u201d Frosti said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Frosti\u2019s drive toward mentorship stems from her own transition into graduate school. Her experience applying to PhD programs was challenging, particularly because she did not yet understand how to navigate the system or seek out the support she needed. This experience showed Frosti how critical sustainable mentorship and transparency are early on in the PhD program experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI became motivated to help create a more supportive and accessible environment, so that future trainees could feel more confident, informed, and welcomed from the start,\u201d Frosti said.<\/span><\/p>\n One of Frosti\u2019s most meaningful experiences has been interacting with prospective and first-year students during PiBS interview and Accepted Students Days. The opportunity to answer questions candidly, discuss her own experiences, and ease prospective students\u2019 uncertainty was rewarding for Frosti, especially when those students later shared that their conversations were helpful to them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As she navigates the next stage of her career, Frosti plans to continue engaging in mentorship for trainees transitioning into graduate school or careers beyond academia. She is most interested in supporting initiatives that bridge science with broader career pathways, including industry, policy, and finance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m passionate about encouraging trainees to begin career development earlier in their graduate education,\u201d Frosti said. \u201cI believe this will improve training environments and equity in STEM.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n