Joana Petrescu, a Presidential Scholar at Villanova University, will graduate with a BSH in Biochemistry and French and Francophone Studies in the Spring of 2014. Awarded a Goldwater Scholarship for her work at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Joana conducts research which seeks to understand the interactions between viruses and the cellular DNA damage response. In addition, Joana has coordinated opportunities for interdisciplinary discussion of the ethical, economic, and legal implications of proposals for healthcare reform. Joana will pursue research in cancer biology at The University of Cambridge in preparation for a career as a physician scientist.