Meet Our New Academic Advisor & Alumni Relations Coordinator, Emily Sandberg!

In July of 2025, the Department of Biochemistry welcomed a new staff member, Emily Sandberg (she/her), as an academic advisor, program coordinator, and alumni relations coordinator. Get to know her with a short Q&A.

Can you tell us a little about your background or previous experience and how that led you to your position with us?

I have bachelor degrees in Evolutionary Anthropology and Psychology from Duke University, and my master’s degree in Higher Education from Columbia University. As an undergraduate, I was highly involved in research, namely animal behavior and cognition research with puppies and lemurs. Alongside my research, I also taught and assisted with undergraduate courses and fell in love with teaching and advising students. I enjoyed sharing my passion for research with others, and wanted to pursue a role where I could help students through the research process and ensure that my fellow first-gen students felt confident and empowered in academic spaces. So, I moved back to my hometown of Raleigh to accomplish these goals in the biochemistry department at State!

What’s one goal you’re looking forward to achieving in your first year in this position?

During my first year, I’m hoping to destigmatize advising and encourage students to seek help proactively. An advisor is not just someone you go to in a panic when you realize that you actually need two semesters of physics– I’m here to holistically support students and connect them with the resources they need to thrive throughout their time in college! I know that I was guilty of not seeking this kind of support as an undergraduate, so it’s my goal to make sure that each biochemistry student feels prepared with the resources they need for success.

Everyone tells college students to “read the syllabus” and “join a club or study group to make friends” which is really great advice, but what would you say to students besides that?

One of the best pieces of advice I have ever received is to refer to yourself with the title you are striving for. For example, if you create art, you are not only an artist when your painting is hung in a museum– you’re an artist now! As an undergraduate, this advice gave me permission to refer to myself as a researcher, and subsequently, made me feel more confident navigating academic spaces with authority. I’ve been addressing my student emails with “Hello, biochemists!” to encourage this mindset.

What’s your favorite memory from your own college experience?

As an undergraduate, I had the opportunity to design and teach my own course for fellow undergraduates, which I titled “Lemur Science 101” (you’ll never guess what it was about…). I will never forget registration day that semester, when I watched the course quickly fill up and go to a waitlist. I am so grateful for this opportunity to teach and put my science communication skills to the test. I would encourage all undergraduates to teach or TA if they have the chance to– it truly does make you a better researcher and student when you can clearly explain complicated topics to non-experts. Seeing other people who are just as excited about the things you love is one of the most fulfilling parts of teaching for me.

How do you hope to make an impact on our community?

My main goal is to make sure every student is equipped with the resources and confidence to navigate the biochemistry curriculum and NC State in general. I want students to know that they don’t have to figure it out on their own, that they will always have me in their corner rooting for them and helping them get to where they need to be. Encouraging this culture of support and collaboration will, I hope, inspire the students to become mentors themselves at every chance they get. 

To find out how you can connect with the department as an alum, you can reach out to Emily via email. You can make an advising appointment with Emily here or stop by 128C Polk Hall to say hi.