Joseph Harriger attended Pitt-Greensburg from which he graduated in 2022 with a BS in biology.
What brought you to Pitt-Greensburg?
I really appreciated the student-to-professor ratio; this not only gave me the opportunity to get help easier, but also gave me the opportunity to do research and TA for some of the professors. Additionally, I loved the campus, as it was rural yet close to the city, so restaurants and coffee were not far away at all.
Were you a commuter or a resident?
Commuter
What activities were you involved with as a student?
I served on the Judicial Board at Pitt-Greensburg for two years and as a teaching assistant (TA) in biology, microbiology, and nursing microbiology for almost every semester I was enrolled.
Did you have a favorite professor, staff member, coach, or mentor that really impacted your life?
There are many: Dr. Barnhart, Dr. Byrns, Dr. Luderer, Professor Beth Uhrenik, Professor Jen Ingram, Dr. Ahmed, Dr. Long, Val Kubenko, Dan (custodian), and Professor Diane Cheek.
Of all the classes you took, what is the one class you would recommend everyone take? Who taught the class? Why would you recommend it?
If I could only pick one, it would be microbiology with Dr. Nayyar Ahmed. This class not only inspired me to take the career route I have, but it also gave me my first opportunity to do real research.
What do you remember most vividly from your time at Pitt-Greensburg?
I would have to say the thirty-ish page organic chemistry exams.
What have you been up to since graduation?
Since graduation, for nearly a year, I worked as an infectious disease research specialist at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and am currently a laboratory manager for the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Otolaryngology.
How did your experiences and education at Pitt-Greensburg prepare you for life after college?
I would say that they impacted me positively; however, the opportunities I was fortunate enough to have by working incredibly hard and going beyond the expectations were more critical than just the coursework.
As an alum, how do you support Pitt-Greensburg?
I have come to show my support at several events the University has held, most recently, the opening of the Life Sciences Building.
What advice do you have for your fellow Bobcats?
Take the initiative to go above and beyond the expectations and standards set for you. Show the passion you have for your field of study, ask for opportunities, ask for help, and do not be afraid to push yourself more than those around you.
For fun:
What is your favorite food? Chinese
List 3-5 fun facts about yourself that most people probably wouldn’t know.
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I took a gap year during the Covid pandemic because I hated the online learning environment. During this time, I was fortunate enough to land a job in a covid laboratory which allowed me to gain incredible experience.
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Until my junior year, I anticipated going to medical school, and I even took the MCATs; however, the research opportunities I was fortunate enough to have made me realize that my true passion was research.
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I have a total of five tattoos with more in the works!
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In one of my tattoos, I intentionally incorporated the two organic-chemistry molecules I accidentally drew five bonds to carbon on during an organic chemistry exam. Dr. Luderer always joked about joining the 'Five Bond to Carbon Club'. So, When I was getting a tattoo done to commemorate my undergraduate experience, I thought that would be a great and funny memory to include.
- I developed an assay that was able to compare the efficacy of antibodies to mitigate viral like particles through activation of natural killer cells for the purpose of vaccine development research.