2021 Stabler Donor Impact Report R4

ARTS AND SCIENCES Name: Bachana Bachiashvili Hometown: Bath, PA Major: Biochemistry Class: 2023 Favorite activity: LU EMS Favorite faculty or staff: Professor Vassie Ware, Biological Sciences Dream job: Physician-Scientist (MD-PhD) My parents left our home country and came to America to start their life from scratch so that I could have a brighter future. That is what inspires me to excel not only at Lehigh, but in life as well. I currently work in the lab of Dr. Vassie Ware, and we are studying the behavior of bacteriophages. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria, and we are studying how they interact with their hosts and confer immunity to the host cell from other infections. Applications of this research will assist in the further development of phage therapy in combating antibiotic resistant infections and targeted personalized treatments. Giving back means having the desire to take all your own wisdom, trials, and tribulations and provide them to up- and-coming students. There have been instances where others might fail to provide important guidance to those seeking it out. Building bridges where you previously had to climb and crawl through unnecessary obstacles in order to allow future gener- ations to more easily access success is what giving back really means to me. I strive to accomplish giving back in this way every day. I am sincerely grateful to donors like you for enabling me, a low income student, to be able to have some financial assistance and ease the burden on myself and my family, especially during these trying times. You have certainly made a difference in my life here at Lehigh, and I hope to give back as you have in the future. Thank you.