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Chrystie Naeole, Ph.D.

Chaminade University of Honolulu

Honolulu, HI USA

"You have to feel good about what you're doing. I don't like to hear people say, 'Oh, that's just my job.'"

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Chrystie's work combines: Science, Medicine, and Learning / Being Challenged

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Special Projects Coordinator & Lecturer

I am a professor of biology that uses DNA based methods for molecular identification of species.

Interacting with students and colleagues.

Always ask yourself "What are you passionate about?"

High School
Bachelor's Degree
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Graduate Degree
Biomedical Sciences, General
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Doctorate
Molecular Biology
University of Hawaii at Manoa

My path in life has been direct

1.
When she was a child, she had a curvature in her spine and had to go to physical therapy.
2.
Her experience as an outpatient inspired her to study to become a physical therapist herself.
3.
At the end of her junior year at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, she took a “genetics for non-science majors” class.
4.
She was in a population genetics lab that was studying the biomarkers of fruit flies...and she fell in love with it.
5.
Simultaneously, she was volunteering as a physical therapist’s aide; as graduation neared, she had to choose between the two.
6.
Despite having planned to go into physical therapy, she took a risk and applied for a master’s in biomedical science.
7.
She earned her Ph.D. in biomedical sciences, and won an Achievement Rewards for College Scientists grant for her research.
8.
Now she teaches undergraduate biology classes at Chaminade University of Honolulu.

THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
I thought I wanted to do this, but I don't think I want to anymore.
How I responded:
One of my grad school mentors told me that I had the abilities to succeed, but if I failed that would be on me. I had to make a commitment to myself not to give up.

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

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I was the first in my family to go to college, but my family and mentors are very supportive.

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