Suan Tuang

Class Year: SB '14, Chemistry (Course 5)

What are you doing now? After graduating from MIT, I completed the Harvard–MIT MD/PhD program and am now a biotech investor based in California.

What advice would you give to yourself if you were an undergraduate at MIT today? Impostor syndrome is real. Surround yourself with people who both support and challenge you, and who genuinely care. Remember: you’re here for a reason.

What was your favorite FLI activity? Interphase EDGE and Laureates & Leaders (both offered through MIT’s [former] Office of Minority Education) contributed most to my MIT experience. Interphase EDGE helped me acclimate to MIT, while Laureates & Leaders guided my planning for post-graduate pursuits.

How did FLI help you during your time as an MIT undergrad? Many first-generation or low-income students at MIT feel as if they’re struggling alone, but we rarely are. Knowing there were others on the same “struggle bus” made a difference. The FLI community gave me a network from which I drew both strength and inspiration.

How has having a network benefited your career trajectory? Your network is everything. At every stage of my academic and professional journey, I have leaned on people in my network. Start building genuine connections as early as freshman year; it’s like planting seeds whose fruit you’ll harvest much later.

What do you do for fun outside of work/school? I love spending time outdoors (especially running and hiking) and I’m also a songwriter. Check out the two songs that were recently released!

https://youtu.be/7GpAbKP28Ds?si=gr7J9N3RHTHm4CFn”