Classification and Major: Senior, Chemistry
Hometown: Lakeland, Florida
Student Leadership Activities: Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program, the Jewel Plummer Cobb Honors Program, and former member of the Tornado Men’s Basketball Team
What challenged you the most about the work you did over the summer?
The biggest challenge was learning new research techniques such as Flow Cytometry, harvesting cells through dissection, euthanizations, and adapting to a professional research environment. Working with complex experimental procedures required patience, attention to detail, and the ability to troubleshoot when experiments did not produce the expected results. However, these challenges helped me become more confident and independent as a researcher.
What did you enjoy the most about the work you did over the summer?
I most enjoyed being able to contribute to meaningful cancer research while gaining hands-on laboratory experience. I especially enjoyed working with biological samples, experiencing different cultures of the city of Seattle, observing cells using antibodies, and analyzing them through flow cytometry. The experience strengthened my interest in pursuing a career as a physician-scientist, honed in on cancer biology, and allowed me to make meaningful connections that will be forever nurtured.
(Responses were edited for clarity.)
