New Alum Joins Effort to Keep Campus and Community Safe

Isabelle Banker graduated in 2019 with a degree in biomedical science: medical microbiology and a Spanish minor. She is from Lee, New Hampshire.

COLSA: What is your role in UNH’s COVID-19 diagnostic lab, and what are your responsibilities?

Isabelle: As a medical laboratory technician, I work alongside fellow technicians and clinical laboratory assistants to ensure timely and organized processing of nasal swab samples, which are dropped off every two hours each day.

COLSA: How has this experience been valuable for you?

Isabelle: I have improved my ability to work productively with a diverse group of people, and I am grateful that I can apply my knowledge and skills to help manage the spread of SARSCoV-2 and serve the public health needs of my community.

COLSA: Has living though a pandemic changed your perspective regarding the future of human health?

Isabelle: I believe this pandemic has reminded us all that personal decisions about our health can have long-lasting effects that impact others as well. I’m optimistic about the future of human health as our society continues to learn and grow from this experience, and I’m looking forward to continuing to promote health in my community and around the world.

COLSA: What role do you think having an on-campus lab has played in UNH’s ability to manage the spread of COVID-19?

Isabelle: The on-campus lab can quickly identify positive cases and initiate an immediate quarantine and treatment of infected and associated individuals, which has been instrumental in limiting the spread of COVID-19 and keeping campus safe and open.