The combination of a high school English essay assignment, a love of science and having an aunt who is a scientist led Ra’Nya Malone to major in biochemistry at Kennesaw State University. She joined Carl Saint-Louis’ laboratory her first semester, she has co-authored a published paper in a prestigious journal, she spent summer 2023 in a National Science Foundation-sponsored Research Experience for Undergraduates, and she has presented her research at KSU’s Symposium of Student Scholars.