- Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.
I participated in my research project during this summer at Dr. Williams’ lab. My time consisted of performing western blots, cell culturing, and flow cytometry. These experiments were performed to test the drug AZD-1775 on cancer cell lines.
- What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? Write one or two paragraphs to describe the change or transformation that took place.
Before undertaking this STEP project, I have never worked on my own research project full time. The STEP project has transformed my view of research overall. Commanding a research project on my gave me a sense of pride in my work, and made me realize my interest in research. Being involved in every step of the project, from the data collecting to the analysis of the results, has opened my eyes on the satisfaction of gathering results and making adjustments when the data is faulty.
Furthermore, the STEP project has allowed me to live independently for the first time of my life. This summer, I was in charge of rent, research, food, and transportation. The attempt to balance these activities have improved my planning and has taught me to be responsible. The most crucial life skill I learned this summer was how to meal prep and pack lunches accordingly to my schedule. The skills I have gathered will be instrumental later on in my life.
- What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you? Write three or four paragraphs describing the key aspects of your experiences completing your STEP Signature Project that led to this change/transformation.
I began my summer research already past the inception of the project. During the STEP project, I had completed my initial experiments and started on replicating the results. However, I realized that the project will not occur without complications. Throughout this summer, I had encounter mistakes, problems, and had to make adjustments accordingly.
These experiences taught me that mistakes will happen in lab, and that I will have to adapt to these changes and think of innovative ways for to have the experiments succeed. Unexpectedly, these results did not discourage me from continuing the project, but instead, I felt motivated to correct these errors and try new methods. The experience was eye opening to me as it made me realize that even the failures in research are an enjoying experience for me.
During the STEP project, I also focused a lot on health and wellness. I kept track of my diet and made sure I balanced work, study, and exercise. This focus refined my planning skills and personal responsibility. Throughout this summer, I made sure I meal prepped every week and had meals planned out a week in advance. I made sure to plan ahead on when I would be available to go to the gym. Not only did I make progress on my project, but I also made a healthy lifestyle change that I believe would stick with me for the rest of my life.
- Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? Write one or two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans.
These changes are significant impacts on my life because I have always wondered if I should get an MD/PhD as a career pathway. I was unsure before, but now I am more confident on my path to these career choice. I will begin doing more research on this career and discuss this decision with my PI who also has an MD/PhD. This STEP project has allowed me to reconsider my future path and will be a significant and valuable experience of my life.
Furthermore, during the summer, I made a lifestyle change focusing on my health and wellness. These changes I believe will be permanent and will be significant because I want to live a life that is healthy and productive. Incorporating my newly developed planning skills and knowledge of health, I am able to craft a healthy lifestyle that will effect both my mentality and physical wellbeing. These experiences I developed during the summer will certainly affect my academics and personal plans.