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After years of dedication to studying the complexities of cancer genetics, Sana Khalili successfully defended her dissertation and earned her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of South Carolina in December 2025. Now, she reflects on her time at the College of Pharmacy—moments that fueled her passion, tested her resilience, and prepared her for the next chapter.

 
How did the University of South Carolina change your life?

"... I gained confidence, made lifelong friends, and found a deeper sense of purpose in what I do. The support from my mentors, especially my Ph.D. advisor, Dr. Phillip Buckhaults, and lab mates made a big difference."

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Describe one of your favorite memories of your time at USC.

"There are so many good memories, from traveling to scientific conferences, celebrating birthdays in the lab, to grabbing food with friends after long days of experiments. But one of my favorites was during last year’s solar eclipse. We took a break from all the work, walked over to the Horseshoe, and watched the eclipse together. It was such a fun moment that brought everyone together."

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What advice would you give to incoming students?

"Be open to learning from everything, even failures. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, seek help, and connect with people. That network and curiosity will carry you far."

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What has been the most important thing you have learned about yourself?

"That I’m more resilient than I thought. Grad school isn’t always easy, but I’ve learned how to keep going, adapt, and grow — even when things don’t go as planned."

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What’s next for you?

"I’m really thankful for my time here. It gave me the foundation to take the next step, I started my postdoc at UC San Diego in February, where I’m continuing to grow as a scientist and work on research that has the potential to make a real difference in people’s lives."

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Topics: Graduate Programs, Research, Alumni