Jada Tulloch, a Stamps Scholar at Georgia State University’s Honors College, is pursuing her goal of becoming a physician while also engaging in research and community service. She is enrolled in the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program with a concentration in Biomedical Science and Enterprise.
Tulloch received the Stamps Scholarship, which covers full tuition, fees, housing, a living stipend, and enrichment funding. This scholarship has allowed her to participate in study abroad programs, paid assistantships, and university research opportunities. She is one of five students in the inaugural cohort for this award at Georgia State.
Her academic focus is on the pre-med track within the Institute for Biomedical Sciences. Tulloch aims to attend medical school to earn either an M.D. or M.D./Ph.D., with long-term plans that include bridging research and clinical practice as well as taking on healthcare administrative roles.
“I want to become a doctor so that I can directly care for people who are in the most urgent need of help,” Tulloch said. “I’m especially interested in pursuing a career as an emergency surgeon, where I would have the opportunity to make a difference in critical, life-or-death situations. At the same time, I’m open to exploring other paths within medicine as I continue to gain experience.”
Tulloch is from Buford, Georgia and is a first-generation college student along with her brothers. She chose Georgia State because her older brother attended and due to its research opportunities. The Biomedical Science and Enterprise degree appealed to her interest in both science and business.
“I always wanted to be an entrepreneur,” Tulloch said. “I have interests outside of biology and research, and I felt this degree would help me attain those goals. If I wanted to start my own practice or if medicine didn’t work out for me, I know that a business degree is kind of universal.”
She values positive relationships with faculty members such as Zachary Saylor from the Careers in Biomedical Science course.
Tulloch has gained laboratory experience as a research assistant at Georgia State and through participation in the Molecular Basis of Disease Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship for two years. She has presented her findings at the Georgia State Undergraduate Research Conference (GSURC). Her current research examines glycogen breakdown using yeast models, which may inform understanding of human metabolic diseases like Pompe disease.
“My research focuses on how cells break down glycogen, which is a way the body stores energy,” Tulloch said. “I’ve been studying this process in yeast, since it serves as a good model system for understanding more complex biology. Specifically, I’m working on designing an artificial receptor that can trigger glycogen breakdown in a selective way. This is important because in humans, problems with glycogen metabolism can lead to glycogen storage diseases, such as Pompe disease. By using yeast as a model, my research helps us better understand these diseases and explore potential strategies for addressing them.”
Community service plays an important role in Tulloch’s college experience. As an officer for the Honors Service Initiative sponsored by the Honors College, she organizes service events such as preparing food for organizations supporting homeless women and children along Delk Road in Marietta; coordinating period packing events; organizing charity walks; and participating in cleanup projects at Oakland Cemetery.
As part of her scholarship activities, she also coordinates volunteer efforts at Atlanta Community Foodbank and mentors students at Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School.
“Community service is important to me because I know what it feels like to go without basic necessities, which has made me deeply empathetic toward others,” Tulloch said. “I have an intrinsic desire to help people and to break down barriers that limit access to essential care and resources.”
Outside academics and volunteering, Tulloch works with Georgia State’s Public Relations photography team and enjoys thrift shopping and reading during her free time.
She intends to further develop clinical skills by shadowing physicians or gaining direct healthcare experience during her studies.
