Lab Work, With a Side of Pinot

Quindlan Kelleher had a busy summer. As she looks toward her final year at Duke, the senior brings with her two seemingly disparate experiences: a summer of research, along with time spent working in Oregon’s wine country. 

For the first part of the summer, Kelleher, a double major in Biology and French, completed research for her senior thesis in the lab of Gregory Wray, professor of Biology. Her project focused on a gene on the X chromosome involved in a process called X-chromosome silencing, which helps balance gene expression between males and females. 

Her path to research began in the classroom. Kelleher initially entered Duke planning to pursue medicine, but an introductory genetics course shifted her interests toward laboratory science. 

“I took Biology 202, which is the introductory genetics course, and it hit the nail on the head for me,” she said. “Duke has so many great opportunities for undergraduate research. I tried it out and ended up loving it.” 

During her sophomore year, Kelleher found her way to the research lab through Muser, an online interface where Duke students can find and apply for undergraduate research opportunities. Interested in genetics and genomics, she applied to several projects and joined Wray’s lab, where she worked with the same graduate student mentor, Tania Guerrero Altamirano, for two years. 

“I ended up there a little by chance,” she said. “I applied to a few genetics projects, and the rest laid itself out.” 

During the academic year, Kelleher primarily worked as a research assistant, supporting her mentor’s project. Getting to take advantage of the Trinity Summer Undergraduate Mentored Research (T-SUMR) Fellowship gave her dedicated time to pursue an independent question that became the focus of her senior thesis. 

“It’s a nice block of time where I get to concentrate on my own research,” she said. 

But research was only one part of Kelleher’s summer experience. After completing her work in Wray’s lab, the Portland, Oregon, native returned home to work at Stoller Family Estate, a vineyard in the Willamette Valley.  

“It’s an undefined role,” she said. “Technically, it’s called a support specialist, which means I can do anything from washing dishes to actually leading wine tastings, depending on the day.” 

This was Kelleher’s third summer working at a winery. For her, the job is more than a way to earn money during school breaks; it’s also an opportunity to learn, connect with people and explore another interest that intersects with her academic background. 

The Willamette Valley is known for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and Stoller is recognized for its sustainability efforts. Kelleher is particularly interested in how climate change is affecting winemaking, from changing growing conditions to evolving production practices. 

“With climate change changing how the wine industry is working, it’s an evolving process,” she said. “It’s exciting [to work] at a winery that’s very cognizant of that.” 

At the winery, she guides visitors through tastings and introduces them to Oregon wine. On busy weekends, she works long shifts and serves hundreds of guests, sometimes carrying dozens of wine glasses at once. 

“It’s a fun experience, getting to taste wine, and it gives me a lot of pride in being from Oregon,” she said. “I’ve met so many cool people, which is my favorite part of the job — getting to talk to people and meet people.” 

This isn’t her first experience with the service industry: She’s worked at the Duke Coffeehouse since her first year and is stepping into the role of general manager this year. “I’ve always loved being in customer service and hospitality,” she said. “I moved to the wine industry, and it’s been my favorite job I’ve ever had.” 

Wine connects back to her second major, French. She studied in Paris and continued to pursue French because it allowed her to practice a different way of thinking. “I like being able to work both parts of my brain — the scientific part, and also studying literature and something more humanities-based,” she said. 

Kelleher is now preparing for the next stage of her academic career. She plans to apply to graduate programs in genetics, molecular biology and potentially developmental biology. Her long-term goal is to return to a university as a professor, where she can combine teaching and research. 

“I love being in academia and always in a constant state of learning,” she said. “Research puts you at the center of that. You’re always finding out something new, and getting involved with intelligent people who push you to be better.”