Growing up in central New Jersey, Samantha Giffen loved science and television shows about forensics and crime. After completing her undergraduate degree, her love of scientific discovery led her to Harvard Chan School.⠀ ⠀ Her doctoral research at Harvard Chan School focused on a protein called WhiB2, which regulates the process of cell division in M. tuberculosis, the pathogen that causes TB, which kills roughly 1.4 million people a year.⠀ ⠀ When the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S., Samantha spent six months working as a contact tracer, making hundreds of phone calls to people who had been potentially exposed to someone sick with COVID-19. “I loved it, but it was hard,” she says. “I think that experience will help make me a better public health leader.”⠀ ⠀ ---⠀ We are highlighting some of the amazing graduates in the Class of #Harvard21⠀ ⠀ #Harvard #HarvardChan21