On the track to success: Centre student-athlete spends summer researching snails

Four-time NCAA Division III All-American Chloe Hein, class of 2027, is used to moving fast at competitions, in the classroom and around campus. This summer, she traded the track for the lab, shifting her focus from athletic competition to scientific discovery.

The adventure began when Associate Professor of Biology Kelly O’Quin emailed his students about summer research opportunities. Hein was accepted to the University of Iowa Biomedical Scholars Summer Undergraduate Research Program, working with Professor of Biology Maurine Neiman, studying freshwater snails native to New Zealand. 

“The first week and a half I was in that lab, and I felt so much imposter syndrome because these people have worked on this experiment for months, if not most of their scientific careers,” Hein said. “They know almost everything there is to know about this snail already. Why am I the one working on this project? But as I started to accumulate more information about the organism, I saw that I could give a new perspective to what they were doing.” 

Hein capped off the summer by presenting her work at the Summer Undergraduate Research Conference at the University of Iowa.

While gaining hands-on research and presentation experience, Hein found herself reflecting on her own health and career ambitions. 

After Centre, Hein hopes to pursue a career in genetic counseling, an idea sparked by the lessons she learned in O’Quin’s Genetics class, along with her diagnoses at age 12 with scoliosis, a congenital curve of the spine that threatened her budding athletic career. 

“There are people who aren’t able to have the mobility that I have and who aren’t able to continue their sports,” she said. “I had two different surgeries to correct my scoliosis, and both were very successful. I do really value my health every day because there are people who aren’t able to do the things I can, and I see how fortunate I am.”

Her summer research experience was especially meaningful when Neiman introduced Hein to colleagues in the field. Hein knew she wanted to connect with current professionals to learn more about this career, but had difficulties due to the limited number of specialists. 

“I was very fortunate to be connected to genetic counselors,” Hein said. “That was really big for me because I had a lot of questions, but it’s hard to get in touch with these people because it’s a very niche field right now.”

Outside of the lab, training for the track and field season remains a priority. This experience taught her the discipline necessary to balance her research work with an exercise regimen that would keep her physically ready for competition. 

“I had to get my track workout in sometime,” she said. “It was also a very realistic view as to having a nine-to-five job in a STEM field but still wanting to keep up your physical health. I’m very appreciative of the health that I have and want to keep it up.”

Hein has taken full advantage of the opportunities she has earned. In addition to excelling on the track in both the long jump, where she finished fourth in the nation last May, and the 4x100-meter relay, she is active in Greek life at Centre and one of 20 students in her class to earn a Kessler Scholarship — reserved for high-achieving students who are the first in their family to pursue a four-year college degree. 

The dedication she’s developed as an athlete, researcher and student has taught her many valuable lessons she’ll take with her into the future.

“A lot of the work you put in may not be noticed,” she explained. “But it’s going to show up eventually. People are going to notice. When you’re putting in the hours and work, when you’re getting to practice early or leaving late, they may not know it, but it will show in your results.”