Two Washington University alumni, 2015 graduate Damari Croswell and 2016 graduate Yidan Qin, were recently named finalists for the Rhodes Scholarship. Croswell applied as an American Scholar, while Qin applied as a Chinese Scholar.

Croswell, who graduated with a degree in biology, currently studies at Harvard Medical School. During his time at Washington University, he was a John B. Ervin Scholar, a resident advisor and a teaching assistant in biology and chemistry. Croswell also spoke at the 2014 Convocation.

Qin, a graduate of the School of Engineering & Applied Science who earned a degree in biomedical engineering, was accepted to Xi’an Jiaotong University in China at 15 years old. In 2014, she transferred to Washington University after working as a research assistant in a biomechanics lab.

“[My experience at Wash. U.] was fantastic. Wash. U. is the best college I’ve ever attended, and I attended to two in total. Although many people think engineering courses to be difficult, I actually thought them to be super fun,” Qin said.

Since graduation, Qin has been working as a research technician in Dr. Patrick Jay’s lab at Washington University School of Medicine, where she studies the genetic architecture of congenital heart disease. Qin has also worked in medical device development with Dr. Eric Leuthardt and Dr. Wilson Ray at Washington University, where she and her teammate have designed a device that continuously, noninvasively monitors the recovery process after spinal fusion surgery.

Qin hopes to be accepted into a MD-Ph.D. program, possibly at Washington University.

In the future, both students hope to improve human health: Croswell by advocating for policy change in healthcare for those in poverty and Qin by advancing patient care and basic science research.