Biological Sciences’ Joshua Morrow Receives Gilman Award

Joshua Morrow (S 2022) received the Mellon College of Science Gilman Award, which is presented to MCS seniors each year for their commitment to the MCS Core Education.

Morrow, a biological sciences and psychology double major with a minor in biomedical engineering, embraced the tenants of the Core Education, which fosters student growth as scholars, professionals, citizens, and people. He eagerly participated in courses, research, teaching assistantships and other extracurriculars. Underlying all of his work is his desire to foster interpersonal relationships.

“I really like to be connected with people, and I think it's one of the most important things in my life,” said Morrow. “This connection with people is enjoyable, but it also just makes me feel good as a human.”

One way Morrow has tried to connect with his fellow students is through his work as a teaching assistant. He has helped with the courses EUREKA! Discovery and Its Impact and Mind & Body: Pathways to Health. During EUREKA!, a first-year seminar for MCS students, Morrow worked one-on-one with students to ensure they understood the material. 

“We would have lectures late at night on Mondays when everyone is tired, but the students and I would still be joking with each other having fun,” said Morrow. “We would have recitation on Thursdays, and I would have a 30-minute session just to talk about whatever is going on with the students in the class.”

Mind & Body was a new psychology course that Morrow had not taken before, but he was eager to learn more about medicine.

“I knew nothing about chronic health conditions, but it was a fascinating class,” he said. “I was learning along with the students." 

Morrow also spent some of his time at Carnegie Mellon working in a biomedical engineering lab, receiving a Small Undergraduate Research Grant for his work. There, he assisted with research into minimizing clots in oxygenator devices. The research involved surgeries to test the devices, which solidified his interest in medicine.

One of Morrow’s most meaningful experiences was his work as a Head Orientation Counselor. There, he worked with his fellow orientation counselors to make the best experience possible for incoming first year students in fall 2021.

“I thought it would be good because orientation is always such a fun experience,” said Morrow. “You're so engaged with everybody, and you're always doing things. Not only was I able to have an impact on the first year students in the CMU community as a whole, but I was then able to have this personal connection with my other orientation counselors.”

Morrow found other ways to reach out to his fellow students and to the greater community. In Fall 2021, he created a StuCo where students analyzed Schitt’s Creek and discussed the show’s themes. He also served as the Vice President of the Brain Exercise Initiative, where he volunteered at elder care facilities.

Morrow plans on combining his excitement for science with his passion for people by pursuing a career as a pediatrician. He will be attending the Baylor College of Medicine this fall for medical school.

“Being a doctor, you have the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on someone's life,” he said.  “It’s doing something that I enjoy — connecting with people and doing science.”