This summer I participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program at Purdue University. While there I performed a proof-of-concept project in the intersection of Aerospace Engineering and Materials Science. I finished the 11-week project with a completed project that got the lab I worked in funding for two additional projects, a presentation, and a brief technical paper.

A large reason I decided to pursue this project was to figure out my plans for graduate school. I knew before this summer that I wanted to pursue either a master’s or PhD in Aerospace Engineering but had no clue where to start, what my specific interests were in, and which one I wanted to do. This summer I was able to answer these questions and work on gaining experience and confidence in more individualized research projects. I learned that I wanted to pursue a PhD because I really enjoy the research process and want to work in a national laboratory for my professional career. Although my work was more in the material science and structures side of engineering, I was able to cater my project towards more thermodynamic aspects which I am more interested in.

Another reason I wanted to participate in this specific program was because of additional assignments it required us to do. These assignments included a literature review, abstract review, presentation, and final paper. All of these were meant to allow us to practice every aspect of the research process from start to finish although we did not have to secure funding or come up with the actual project ourselves. Additionally, since we were doing our research during only one summer, our assignments were a lot shorter than a full paper or any type of full literature review. Although I did not particularly enjoy writing the final paper, having the result as something I can show for my work was very exciting and encouraging.

This summer I was able to work directly with a group of PhD students, masters’ students, research engineers, and professors. I took time to have a conversation or two with each of the students about what their interests are, why they chose Purdue, and their path to their specific project. Everyone worked on some aspects of improving additive manufacturing of different metal compositions and decreasing the waste of the processes. I really aligned with these projects as my interest are mainly in improving sustainability. But everyone I talked to had very different paths, some attending Purdue for undergrad, some coming from other US universities, and many coming from schools abroad especially from Greece. From conversations I learned that the most important decision to be made is about who your research advisor is and the specific project you are working on. This has encouraged me to apply to lots of schools and programs to find the best fit of advisor possible.

The person I most directly worked with was a research engineer who I was creating a proof-of-concept project for. The goal for the summer was to complete the project to his specifications to get additional funding for future projects. He was the person I could come to for any questions about all aspects of engineering, how to apply to graduate school, parts of material science that I am not experienced in, and even about life at Purdue. He was really the person that showed how effective a good advisor is in a student’s development. He was also the person that encouraged me to try the PhD path because of my interests in research and informed me that if life throws a curveball, I can drop with my master’s degree easily.

Another group of people that helped me this summer was the other undergraduate students in my lab and in my program. Some were other Purdue students who helped me figure out things on campus and the academic campus. Other students were also from other schools in which I was able to have discussions about their experiences at their schools and what their plans for after they graduate were. I found that many people were like minded to me and trying to figure out what their academic and career goals were. We all exchanged things we had learned about graduate schools and the process which will be very helpful for the coming months as I am applying.

Since I grew up in Columbus, I felt it was important for me to try and spend my summers at places other than in Ohio since it’s where I’ve spent my entire life. Last summer I spent time working in Yellowstone National Park as I wanted to experience more of the western parts of the US. This summer I was in West Lafayette, Indiana, which although it is very similar to parts of Ohio, allowed me to experience something different. Since I will be deciding on schools to go to for graduate school soon, I wanted to experience an environment where a large school was not in a large city like Columbus. I found out from this that I prefer larger cities rather than suburbs due to the number of things to do and larger communities especially during the summer. I enjoy attending running clubs, going to local art shows, and just generally exploring the area. This is something I really value and find it is much easier to enjoy in larger cities. From this experience I have shifted my focus on schools in larger cities to attend in the following years.

I am unable to add a picture from this summer as the aspects of the lab I worked in were data protected.

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed. 

My STEP Signature Project was participating in an ovarian cancer research lab. I spent my summer in Columbus, and worked in Dr. Wang’s lab where I learned experimental techniques such as Western Blotting, PCR, and basic cell culture. I also participated in lab meetings where I learned a lot about the experimental method and the process of developing and completing a project. 

2. 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. 

I thought that I would hate research. I also did not feel confident in my own abilities to conduct scientific experiments on my own and come up with experimental methods that would be able to contribute significantly.  I also did not understand how research worked as a whole, and I did not realize the amount of work goes into discovering a single thing. Through my STEP Project, I realized that research was not only about following rigid procedures, but actually being able to apply systematic approaches to creative and meaningful ideas. I discovered that I enjoy this process of trying, and failing, and trying again, and when I was not great at something or did not understand something, I was able to push forward and learn. I developed more confidence and learned that I am more resourceful than I once believed. 

3. 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. 

A large part of my transformation came from the relationships that I built with those in my lab. These relationships ranged from working with my PI (principle investigator) to the graduate student whose project I was helping to contribute to, as well as collaborating with the rest of the lab and other labs as well. At first, I felt as if I relied heavily on my mentors to explain different protocols and procedures, as well as to understand the project we were working on. However, over time, I gained more and more independence and was able to start reading research literature on my own, as well as complete experiments and contribute to the project without guidance. Each of my mentors pushed me in their own ways and led me to engage in conversations and exercises that strengthened my critical thinking and independence. 

Beyond just the people in my lab, I also benefitted from working in a space where multiple labs were placed right next to each other. This proximity showed me just how much collaboration one project can have. I used to think that the scientific process was extremely isolating, and while it can be if you make it that way, collaboration opens new doors to create new ideas and conduct more efficient and effective experiments. I now see that scientific discovery is an amalgam of knowledge and shared experiences. It takes experts from many fields with many perspectives to be able to truly conduct a cohesive and holistic project. 

Finally, attending seminars was another transformative part of my STEP project experience. Here, I was able to listen to other researchers talk about their work and about their novel discoveries. Being in a place with cutting edge discoveries really motivated me and made me realize that it is realistic for me to be able to contribute to something that can make a huge difference in the world. By listening to these seminar speakers, the idea that the world is constantly revolving was drilled into my head and continued to inspire me to think deeper about my own projects. Overall, my STEP project helped shape my confidence and furthered my interest in research and discovery.

4. 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.

This change has been extremely valuable to me outside of only a change in mindset. As I am applying to medical school and hope to become a physician in the future, the research that I have conducted is absolutely translational to real clinical cases and the discoveries that we have made will directly contribute to furthering our battle against ovarian cancer. Additionally, from a professional standpoint, the admissions committees for medical school will view my experiences in the lab as invaluable as the scientific method, critical thinking, and experiences in the lab are able to be applied throughout my career as a physician. On a personal level, I now see myself as being able to contribute meaningfully to both science and medicine, and have refined my sense of purpose as I finish my time here at OSU and go onto medical school.

1.     My first main project activity was histology work which involved the handling of rodent brain tissue through sectioning, mounting, and staining followed by imaging, calculations, and analysis. My second main project activity was brain preservation through procedures of perfusions and extraction. My third main project activity was behavioral work that consisted of running mice through different model setups and recording facets of behavior like freezing.

2.     While completing my STEP signature project, my view of myself and my capabilities grew. I truly feel like I learned more in the summer during my project than I did the whole year prior to it. I used to be more hesitant to engage in experimental procedures due to the risk of making mistakes, however, after being pushed to take more initiative and actually jump onto a task with full force, I realized that I knew more than I had previously thought because of all the times that I had shadowed my mentors while they performed their experiments in the past. I also was surprised by how much I was able to apply the knowledge I had gained in my coursework to the research I was conducting in lab, especially as it pertains to the scientific literature that I was reviewing to familiarize myself more with the project I was involved in.

My view of the world also changed/transformed because I used to shy away from asking for help, but now I collaborate more comfortably with the peers of my lab after I embraced the fact that there are a lot of people in the world that want to see the best out of me. I also learned about how much time and dedication it takes to really get good at something, because at every stage that I would reach in my progress, I saw new heights for me to reach. It taught me the importance of humility and consistency, because if it wasn’t difficult, it wouldn’t be worthwhile.

3.     One of the biggest factors in my growth in confidence of my abilities was due to my grad student mentor Kiara putting a lot of trust in me to do lots of things on my own after showing me how to do it herself like perfusions, extractions, staining, IHC, and injury volume analysis. Doing perfusions by myself for the first time after being asked to by Kiara was a transformational experience for me because at a certain point when I had first started in this lab, perfusions/extractions seemed like the hardest procedure to perform after mice surgeries. However, after Kiara walked me through it step-by-step, she finally pushed me to take that leap and do it on my own, and when I actually did it successfully, it instilled an unbelievable amount of self-confidence.

However, it wasn’t just through the successes that I grew. It was through the challenges as well. During the summer, I was able to help others out with behavior experiments, but at first, I wasn’t allowed to run the tests independently. Therefore, it was my goal to get more trained in behavior and get approved to do it on my own which would require the assistant director, James, to monitor me as I ran behavior on a practice mouse and assess how well I performed. The first time I did it, I failed my approval run. There were many mistakes I made that I didn’t even realize were mistakes. I was somewhat confident going into it that I knew what I was doing, so it showed me how much humility I needed to grow from this experience. I had to be humble enough to learn from others to recognize and fix my mistakes so that I could improve for the next run. Surely enough, I did the necessary work, ran through the approval run one more time weeks later, and got approved by James.

What pushed me to take more initiative was a few key moments. For one, a little before the beginning of my STEP project, I had a conversation with James about wanting to get involved in his CaMKII study. He agreed to let me, but advised me that in order for me to be successful, I cannot simply let tasks be handed to me. I would have to go out there and “catch the fish” myself, and that no one is going to do it for me. This taught me that although everybody would be willing to help, I would need to volunteer to do work myself. What guided me through this process was Kiara and witnessing her be a good role model of what it means to be a young leader who rises to the occasion.

4.     My goal is to become a medical doctor, and in every phase of that journey, it would be useful to utilize skills I learned during my STEP project. Medical schools require teamwork and conversation skills when participating in clinical rotations, professional student organization, research, study groups, and projects. Residency and beyond requires teamwork when working amongst other healthcare professionals in a medical team. In a similar fashion, this emphasizes the importance of leadership in becoming a doctor. Additionally, confidence is essential to that leadership, especially when you’re faced with high pressure situations on an everyday basis. Circling back to the topic of medical school, tenaciousness and patience are necessary to dealing with occasional failures and lackluster performances during medical school examinations and important due to the lengthiness and arduousness of the medical journey, especially if pursuing a surgical specialty. Understanding that medicine is a constant, ongoing journey of learning even after becoming an attending physician is important to the growth process.

My STEP signature project was undergraduate research in the Musier-Forsyth lab at Ohio State! I was a of Center for RNA Biology Daniel Schoenberg Fellow and was further supported by the STEP Fellowship. I conducted independent research where I characterized RNA Structure of HIV-1 and purified RNA binding proteins involved in HIV-1 replication.

This summer, as I read literature and consulted my peers in lab, I became more aware of the scientific community I am apart of. I started to connect scientists to discoveries I had learned about in classes. I learned of scientists at Ohio State and across the country that contributed to fundamental understandings of RNA biology. I have been fortunate to meet a few of these researchers. It is awesome to meet scholars who have made remarkable discoveries and realize they are just normal people. Because of this, I gained confidence in my abilities to conduct research. I also became enlightened on how much I do not know, but I grew excited to learn more about my field!

One reoccurring event that happened throughout my summer was failure. A lot of my summer was spent trying to mutagenize and clone DNA constructs and transform them into E. coli to produce my proteins of interest. I spent lots of time trying to get my experiments to work, but I would often face disappointment. My fellowship program had meetings with other undergraduate researchers over the summer, and we all realized that everyone had difficulties in lab. We all knew that if we were methodical and tenacious, things would work out. By dedicating a lot of time and thought into my research, I was able to accomplish my goals despite many setbacks.

My fellowship program also consisted of a lunch with Dr. Loren Wold, the Senior Associate Vice President for Research in the Office of Enterprise, Research, Innovation, and Knowledge. It was very interesting hearing his advice for young researchers. He told us that it is important to be connected and driven to your research. He also said researchers should try to challenge scientific dogma. The field of RNA biology has been challenging the recognized view of the central dogma of molecular biology. The view of information flowing from DNA to RNA to protein is constantly challenged by RNA functioning in unexpected ways. I hope to continue studying RNA biology to contribute to our revolutionizing understanding of RNA.

I also participated in a summer poster session. It was a multidisciplinary event where people from many scientific fields attended. As much as it was enjoyable to talk to people my field about research, It was enlightening to speak to people who did not understand my project. They made me explain my research differently and break it down to a basic level. It made me think differently about my research and encourages me to find ways to view my research from a more holistic perspective.

All in all, the STEP Fellowship provided me an opportunity to grow as an undergraduate researcher. Through studying HIV-1 replication in the Center for RNA Biology Daniel Schoenberg Fellowship, I was able to embrace failure, learn from experts, and change my ways of thinking. In the future I want to pursue an MD-PhD program where I will focus on RNA biology but be aware of the complex biological process that occur in the body. This summer, I was able to grow as an undergraduate researcher and a member of the scientific community. The STEP fellowship helped me affirm my career goals and I cannot wait for what is next!

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed. 

My STEP Signature Project was a hands-on experience in the Gur Laboratory, contributing to a project investigating the effect of maternal stress on the infant inflammatory pathway. I assisted a senior graduate student with counting immune cells in the placenta and fetal brain, slicing tissue samples, and using immunohistochemistry to fluorescently label immune cells. I also gained experience in dissecting placenta and fetal brains from maternal and fetal rats. 

2. 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.

This experience has been transformative for my career goals and deepened my understanding of research’s contribution towards life-saving answers. During my time at the Gur Laboratory, I built strong relationships with my research team and PI, while also applying my Neuroscience coursework in a hands-on setting. I became fascinated with microbiology, specifically with immune cells, macrophages, and ways stress can create structural changes within the brain. This experience showed me a side of medicine and healthcare beyond the typical patient care and diagnosis. By working with the animal models and using chemical laboratory practices, I gained an appreciation of the internal workings of our bodies. While it may seem like a small, narrow-scoped research lab, it has potential to create significant changes for women. This deeper appreciation for women and fetal health solidified my commitment to medicine. 

3. 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 think some of the most important interactions and activities that led to my transformation and deeper understanding were my relationship with my graduate student mentor and learning technical skills like performing dissections on fetal and maternal rats, immunohistochemistry, and tissue slicing. These relationships and laboratory skills help me connect my coursework to real-world settings and better appreciate the critical role of research in medicine. Through these practices, I developed greater independence and confidence in my technical skills, problem-solving, and data interpretation. Also, my passion for my future has strengthened, solidifying my future in women and fetal medicine.  

My graduate student mentor was a central part of my growth throughout the year at the Gur Laboratory. He supported me by explaining each chemical laboratory practice in detail and took time to walk me through complex techniques, such as immunohistochemistry, PCR, and imaging. I learned how fluorescence antibodies are used to tag immune cells for imaging and counting, which allows us to quantify immune cell expansion in the fetal brain after maternal stress. He also explained how animal models are designed and manipulated, deepening my understanding of the experimental design. His guidance helped me bridge my classwork like biology, microbiology,  genetics, and embryology with practical skills in a lab. Our relationship not only strengthened my hands-on abilities, but also helped me understand how research contributes to a broader scale of healthcare, solidifying my fascination with microbiology and women’s health.

Another transformative aspect of this project was learning and performing surgeries and dissections on maternal and fetal rats. These procedures helped me understand the critical role animal models play in advancing human medicine and how the structure and functions of these animals relate to the human body. I’ve also gained a perspective and appreciation for the ethical responsibilities of research because of the sacrifices these animals make in the pursuit of discovery and progress in healthcare. While at times these practices felt difficult to execute, I came to see how essential they are for advancing medicine. Each rat and each surgery seems small in scale, but contributed to valuable data of a larger project. All together, each experiment and data point created advancements in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology, ultimately leading to the improvement in women and fetal health.   

4. 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.

This transformation is valuable for my life because it bridges two of my core academic interests of neuroscience and women’s health. Although I do not intend to pursue a career in research, these principles and foundations learned in the lab will indirectly support my future as a physician by giving me a deeper appreciation of women and fetal bodies and their response to stress on a structural and physiological level. This knowledge will allow me to provide patients with accurate and evidence-based information, while also educating and empowering them to better understand their own bodies. These skills and practices I developed through my time at the Gur Laboratory will translate into my ability to be a more empathetic, patient-centered, and communicative physician. 

My STEP project covered the data collection phase of my pursuit of Undergraduate Research in automotive aerodynamics. This involved the use of the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software to better understand how noise rises from turbulent airflow, and the implications of that added noise for early-stage vehicle design.  

Prior to this project, my main experience with CFD was limited to whatever was covered in my aerodynamics classes. While that was a foundation, I wouldn’t imagine myself performing the scale of simulations that I performed throughout the STEP project. Moreover, my communications skills were rather poor in regard to technical language. Working with PhD students, professors, and industry professionals, developed my skills to concisely convey information about projects. Personally, this was my first exposure to academic fields of work, and the STEP project provided a structure for me to follow navigate what was a relatively new area for me.  

The clearest example of my personal growth was not through the technical skills I ended up learning, but the sheer exchange of knowledge from more learned people overall; simply being in the meeting rooms, picking up on the cadence, language, tone, etc. familiarized me with the conventions that exist in academic settings. My pre-existing notions of academia being a place far above and distinct from any other groups of people were changed, as most of peers were very understanding when I lacked familiarity with a topic. I found it to be way more welcoming than I had thought. 

Specifically, there were three key events that I think best highlight the growth the STEP project allowed me to have. The first being my very first meeting with the Aerodynamics group under Dr. Duan, my advisor. Prior to this, I only spoke with the professor, thus communicaition requirments were very relaxed; in the context of a group meeting however, I had tiem constraints, and had to inform otther people about me project within a few minutes so everyone has the time to share. In a way, my introductions was done via the first presentation I gave about my research proposal, and the direction I wanted to take; this was valuable, as the other memebers of the group pitched in with questions and interest; this was a different dynamic for me as I was not expecting to be treated as. an ‘equal’, but moreso as a junior.  

Later on, when my project gained clarity, I began practicing acoustic simulations (as shown below) and learned about the area of CFD that extrapolates noise properties of fluid from the pressure changes that result from interacting with a frame. Simply put, sound is measured as a function of pressure, so when applied to vehicles like cars, noise reduction can be partially achieved by minimizing how much your car frame causes the local air pressure to change. Simulating these phenomena  and learning the techniques to optimize the solver methods was a valuable insight into industry practice as well. This was particularly where the STEP project was useful, as it gave me a structured way to document some of the data collection process that would otherwise be irrelevant for a formal research presentation.  

Finally, towards the end of summer 2025 term, I began to finally put together an outline for my thesis defense and began to practice as well. Learning the relevant conventions, everything from the expected dress code to the formalities involved, was a new exposure. Filtering down the collected data into figures and digestible quantities of text was more of an extension of what was taught in many of my courses, but this time I felt that there was a real-world implication to the effort I put in; it was finally something that was not just for a grade. 

Overall, it suffices to say that the experience was certainly foundational to my career. This is in part because the project helped me filter down my interests in the vast field that is called Aerospace engineering. Having the STEP background for this project was extremely helpful, as it gave me an opportunity to write down my progress as a person as well as the progress I made intellectually. Speaking currently as a senior two semesters away from graduation, I can confidently say that the trajectory of my early career is near guaranteed to be partly a function of me having done this project. The skills I was able to improve on and the exposures to new environments were priceless; I am grateful to have to have had this experience as an undergraduate at The Ohio State University!   

1. Brief Description of Project 

My STEP Signature Project was a summer research experience in the Rehab Outcomes Assessments Research Lab at the Jameson Crane Sports Medicine Institute. I worked with 3D motion capture technology to study gait mechanics, joint kinematics, and neuromuscular control in patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing rehabilitation. In addition to data collection and analysis, I also assisted with a research paper examining kinesiophobia in knee OA patients and collaborated on the development of a research poster to communicate our findings.

2. Transformation in Understanding 

Completing my project challenged my assumptions about research and its role in clinical care. Before this experience, I saw rehabilitation primarily through the lens of hands-on patient care, where progress was measured in visible improvements in strength, mobility, or pain reduction. Through this project, I came to understand the  complexity of movement biomechanics, and how advanced technologies like 3D motion capture can reveal small compensatory patterns that clinicians might otherwise overlook.

I also realized that rehabilitation outcomes are influenced by psychological factors, not just physical. Contributing to a paper on kinesiophobia in knee OA patients taught me how fear of movement can limit recovery, even when physical movements improve. This broadened my perspective, reminding me that treatment requires addressing both the body and the mind. The project reshaped my identity from being only an aspiring clinician to also being someone who values research, communication, and interdisciplinary understanding as essential to patient care.

3. Events, Interactions, and Activities that Led to Transformation 

One of the most impactful aspects of my project was the direct involvement in setting up and operating the 3D motion capture systems. At first, I underestimated how technical and detail-oriented this process would be, from ensuring proper marker placement to troubleshooting equipment in real time. These hands-on experiences taught me that accuracy and patience are just as critical as enthusiasm. They pushed me to develop stronger problem-solving skills and a deeper respect for the behind-the-scenes work that makes clinical research possible.

Another transformative experience was data processing and analysis. Looking at gait cycles and joint angles across multiple patients, I realized that the story of rehabilitation is often hidden in patterns that are not obvious on the surface. For example, while a patient might look like they were walking normally, the data revealed compensatory strategies in the force they outputted into the ground that could eventually lead to further problems if left unaddressed. This showed me that real progress in healthcare sometimes requires looking beyond what is visible and digging into the numbers to see the full picture.

Working on a manuscript about kinesiophobia further deepened my understanding of patient outcomes. I learned how psychological barriers, such as fear of pain or re-injury, can reduce adherence to therapy and slow recovery, even when physical capacity improves. Contributing to literature reviews and drafting sections of this paper helped me see the importance of integrating psychological perspectives into rehabilitation research. It reminded me that patients are not just data points but whole individuals with mental, emotional, and physical needs.

Finally, collaborating on a research poster was another key learning moment. The process of condensing complex data into a clear and engaging visual taught me the importance of communication in science. Presenting findings in this way required me to think not only about accuracy but also about accessibility, ensuring that our work could be understood by clinicians, researchers, and patients alike. This experience highlighted the value of sharing research widely, so that it can truly impact practice.

4. Significance of Transformation 

This transformation is significant because it directly influences my academic and professional trajectory in physical therapy. I now approach my future career with a clearer understanding of how research, clinical care, and communication all work together to improve patient outcomes. Instead of seeing research and practice as separate, I now see them as deeply interconnected. The experience of working on a manuscript about kinesiophobia and contributing to a research poster showed me that my role in healthcare can extend beyond treating patients to advancing the field through scholarship and education.

Personally, this experience reinforced my resilience and adaptability, skills I will need in graduate school and in a clinical setting. Professionally, it gave me confidence that I can contribute to both sides of healthcare: hands-on patient care and the advancement of evidence-based practice. This dual perspective will guide me as I pursue physical therapy school, with the long-term goal of not only helping patients regain mobility but also contributing to research-driven improvements in rehabilitation strategies.

For my STEP project, I conducted undergraduate research in the Pei Lab, where I worked on cell-penetrating protein therapeutics. During my summer in the lab, I learned and executed many biochemical laboratory techniques such as DNA cloning, gel electrophoresis, protein purification through chromatography, cell culture, confocal microscopy, and functional assays. I hope to build on the data I collected through this project to pursue research distinction and complete an undergraduate thesis.

My STEP project contributed greatly to both my personal and professional development. Before joining the lab, I would get very nervous during presentations or public speaking. However, being part of the Pei research group required regularly sharing our scientific findings with each other. Every Monday, we had lab group meetings where everyone, including me, presented work from the previous week, whether the experiments went well or not. As a group, we discussed what could be improved for future trials. Presenting weekly not only strengthened my public speaking skills and reduced my nerves but also taught me how to accept and apply constructive feedback effectively.

Through this experience, I also gained a deeper understanding of the research process, from experimental design all the way to publication. I became more familiar with the ongoing projects in the lab and significantly improved my ability to read and interpret scientific literature. Overall, this project has shaped me into a more confident communicator, critical thinker, and engaged researcher.

The positive interactions I had with my PI and graduate mentor, along with the research projects I worked on, contributed to the transformational aspect of my STEP project. As I mentioned earlier, the weekly group presentations allowed me to strengthen my leadership and public speaking skills while also engaging with the wide variety of projects happening in the lab. These meetings not only broadened my scientific knowledge but also gave me the chance to contribute my own insights to our group discussions. 

Equally important was the guidance I received from my graduate mentor. Her patience combined with the commitment to my growth made a lasting impression. Even though it was not required of her, she regularly shared literature that was related to the lab with me, took the time to explain difficult concepts, and provided mentorship whenever I made mistakes or forgot procedures. Her encouragement and support were important to my development as a student researcher and made my learning experience in the lab enriching. 

Finally, the projects I worked on changed my perspective on scientific research. I came to understand that failure is a natural part of the process, and that experiments often require a lot of time and patience. For instance, a single protein purification protocol could take an entire day only to still yield only a small amount of product. My DNA cloning experiments failed repeatedly, and after two months of effort, I ended up having to abandon the project. At first, these setbacks felt discouraging, and I often questioned whether I had done something wrong. However, my graduate mentor reminded me that dead ends are a natural part of research and not a reflection of my abilities as an aspiring scientist. This experience taught me that the success of a project does not define anyone’s value as a researcher, and that persistence and resilience are just as important as positive results.

This project was transformative because it reshaped my perspective on success and failure and helped me grow both personally and professionally, particularly by making me more confident in public speaking and research abilities. It also connects directly to my academic goals, as I plan to pursue medical school and a career as a physician. I hope to continue engaging in research during medical school and beyond, and this experience provided valuable exposure to the research process. I know that along this journey I will encounter setbacks, but I now understand the importance of perseverance. While the path to becoming a doctor is long and challenging, this project has equipped me with skills and resilience that will ultimately help make me a stronger physician.