UTSA | Catalyst 2020
#ThisIs WhatA Scientist Looks Like 16
Catalyst 2020 | UTSA
Abigail Munteanu By Catherine Walsh Abigail “Abi” Munteanu’s journey to UTSA began when she found out about scholarships, something that would change her life forever. “The cost was always a concern,” recalls Munteanu. “When I was 11, I heard that schools will pay you to go to school if you do well enough.” Munteanu’s parents immigrated from Romania to Seattle at ages 18 and 19 and moved to California when her older sister was very young. After the 2008 stock market collapse, the family relocated to Texas to start over. Her family’s financial struggle had a profound impact on Munteanu and motivated her to excel academically. “When I heard what scholarships were, I promised myself from that day on that I would work really hard in school. I knew where I wanted to go with my future,” she says. “My sister helped and pushed me
Munteanu is actively involved in multiple clubs at UTSA,
through high school, where I graduated first in my class.”
including the Student Affiliate Chapter of the American Chemical Society and the Dean’s Ambassadors. She also
Now a third-year student in UTSA’s biochemistry
is a member of the American Medical Student Association,
program, Munteanu is the recipient of two scholar-
which works with a local rehabilitation center that helps
ships: the Distinguished Presidential Scholarship and
children, adults and felons transition back into society.
the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Scholarship. She is currently researching green chemistry, which
Driven by her desire to help others, Munteanu’s ultimate
identifies chemicals that are safe for the environment.
goal is to attend medical school in Texas. Because she
In Dr. Karl E. Klose’s microbiology lab, Munteanu is
was accepted into the Joint Admissions Medical Program
also researching vibrio cholerae, a bacterium that
(JAMP) at UTSA, Munteanu has the opportunity to attend
causes severe dehydration and affects people pri-
any medical school in Texas that has JAMP affiliation. “I am
marily in developing nations. “Our goal in the lab is to
keeping an open mind about what area of medicine I want
find a vaccine,” she explains. “When you go into the
to pursue,” says Munteanu. “There are so many areas of
lab, you don’t know what you’re going to expect and
the human body to explore, and you don’t actually know
can spend hours researching. But I always enjoy it.”
what you will fall in love with until you experience it.”
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