Marie Wei is graduating this spring with a BS in molecular and cellular biology and a combined BA/MA in classics. Wei’s dual interest in the humanities and STEM began as a child in China and continued as a high school student in the U.S. She chose Johns Hopkins because it champions both research and double majors.

Wei’s master’s thesis was inspired by a book passed down by her great-grandfather, a 20th-century Chinese scholar—and one of the earliest readers of author Liang Qichao, who wrote the first essay in Chinese on Sparta. Using her knowledge of Mandarin, English, Latin, and ancient Greek, Wei’s thesis explores Qichao’s contributions and the reception to his work.

Then there is her “passion project”—developing synthetic snail mucus (inspired by her own pet snails) to study its cancer-fighting potential. Wei notes that records of the healing properties of snail mucus date back to Hippocrates, the father of medicine.

What’s next for Wei? Hopkins’ PhD program in Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology. “I want to be a humanistic scientist. Someone who is not only good at doing research, but also good at telling a story. If we can share the power of science through good stories, we can make humanity better.”