Patrick Buckley ‘19 (pictured above) invested much of his academic focus into research and science while a student at Geneseo. He continued his graduate studies at Yale University, and is now the recipient of a prestigious research award. He emphasizes the importance of getting involved in new opportunities that can aid in individual growth (Picture courtesy of Patrick Buckley).
College is a learning experience for everyone. These four years can be used for both personal growth and for branching out and exploring different interests. Alumnus Patrick Buckley, ’19, is someone who learned a great deal about himself and life from his time at Geneseo. Now, he studies at Yale University, where he was awarded the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
Buckley explained via email that he decided to go to Geneseo because it was the best SUNY fit for him, especially given its emphasis on science.
“My mom is a graduate, which actually made me avoid submitting an application. But after looking at schools I could afford I decided that Geneseo was the best SUNY school for a science major undergraduate,” Buckley said. “Places like SUNY Buffalo are great, but I could get more attention doing research with a professor at Geneseo due to a lack of graduate students.”
As a student at Geneseo, Buckley discussed how he found his potential. He realized that with the educational opportunities and leadership activities offered to him at the school, there were so many ways in which he could make a difference somehow.
“I learned that I could actually make a difference in ways I didn’t think were realistic before coming here. While I learned about biochemistry at Geneseo, I could have gotten that education in other places. I think the most impactful learning experiences during my time at Geneseo actually came from participating in the GOLD program,” Buckley said. “[Former Associate Dean of Leadership and Founder of the GOLD Program at the school] Tom Matthews and then [Assistant Dean of Students for Leadership and Service] Nick Palumbo were really influential mentors in my life and I also learned a ton from the other leader mentors.”
He emphasized that while navigating the undergraduate world, students need to do something that makes them uncomfortable because that is a great way for growth to occur. A way in which Buckley modeled this growth included his involvement in leadership organizations on campus.
“Do something that makes you uncomfortable, however your situation allows. I was fortunate enough to have the time to [participate] in many co-curricular activities like GOLD and the Ambassadorship program at Geneseo. Those activities outside just taking classes really shaped who I am as a person and introduced me to amazing people,” Buckley said. “[These involvements] were things that I was uncomfortable doing at first but pushing myself to try something new and make my best effort to contribute made all the difference for me.”
Buckley was awarded the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, which helps him continue his research journey.
“The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship is a national award given to students attending graduate school to recognize their potential,” Buckley said. “It will help fund my time at Yale, so the school and my principal investigator, Dr. DiMaio, do not have to pay my stipend or tuition.”
Buckley encourages students who are interested in similar career paths to email him at patrick.buckley@yale.edu.