Vinay Eapen Will Serve as 2016 GSAS Commencement Marshal
April 15, 2016
By Simon Goodacre | Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Brandeis’ 65th commencement ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 22, 2016. Each year, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences selects one graduating student to serve as the Commencement Marshal for the school. This year, that student is Vinay Eapen, a PhD graduate in Molecular and Cell Biology.
“Selecting a Commencement Marshal is always a challenge when you have so many talented and accomplished students,” says Eric Chasalow, Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. “Dr. Eapen was recommended without reservation by his advisors, and I am very pleased that he has accepted this honor.”
We caught up with Dr. Eapen earlier this week to ask him about what he will remember most about his Brandeis experience.
How did you end up at Brandeis?
Serendipity. I was finishing up my undergraduate thesis at the National Institute of Immunology in New Delhi and had just taken my GRE with the aim of applying for Molecular / Cellular Biology graduate programs in the U.S. I became aware of the Molecular and Cellular Biology program at Brandeis through an email that GSAS sent shortly after I completed my GRE, and I decided to apply.
What did you study?
I arrived in the fall of 2009 to pursue my masters in Molecular and Cellular Biology and was admitted to the PhD program by the fall of 2010. I studied how cells respond to and fix DNA damage under the guidance of Dr. James Haber.
What are you doing now?
I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School. My current research aims to understand the biology underlying various human cancers.
What is the biggest thing you will take from your Brandeis experience?
I spent close to 6.5 years at Brandeis and the biggest thing I will take away, in addition to the stellar academic training that was imparted to me, is the sense of community that a school like Brandeis offers. In our department, everyone knew everybody, and that feeling of a close-knit community made it feel less like work and more like fun!
Why are you excited about Commencement?
The fancy robes! I am excited to see GSAS students from various departments come together under one roof to receive their degrees. It will be a good opportunity to reconnect with old friends and meet graduating students from other programs. Also, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that my advisor, Dr. Haber, will "hood" five of his PhD students at commencement, probably a record number for a single year!