2024 Amgen Scholar Emily Grunert received the Rathmann Family Foundation Endowment for Chemistry and Biology 24-25. Congratulations Emily!
2024 Amgen Scholar, Gabriel Jones-Thomson has been awarded the 2024 Goldwater Scholarship. Way to go Gabe!
Brandon Chew (2021 cohort) recently published an interview article he wrote for ASBMB Today sharing the personal journal of Professor Cassandra Hayne, a new professor at the University of Chicago. Brandon is currently a PhD student at the University of Chicago in Cell and Molecular Biology.
https://www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/people/042523/scientist-channels-personal-experience-into-passio
University of Chicago PhD student Shinya Wai (2019 cohort) contributed to the development of a new polymer that adheres a flexible semiconductor to tissue, with a potential use to collect date on the electrical activity of the heart. These findings from the Sihong Wang at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering were highlighted in the U Chicago News. https://news.uchicago.edu/story/transistor-can-adhere-internal-organs-tape
UCLA PhD student Shelby Vexler (2019 cohort) got third place in the UCLA Grad Slam for her research on “From Foe to Friend: Viruses that Fight Bacteria”. Vexler conducts research in Professor Irene Chen’s group in the department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.
UCLA Bioengineering Graduate Student Heather Romero Mercieca (2019 cohort) was celebrated by her undergraduate institution, UC Irvine, in honor of her received the NSF Graduate Research Fellowshp. https://engineering.uci.edu/news/2021/4/four-engineering-students-receive-graduate-research-fellowship-program-awards
Meet Zahra Gill! Zahra is a 4th year Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology major with a minor in Biomedical Research. Through her Biomedical Research minor prerequisite class (BR10H), Zahra was able to gain experience working with Drosophila, and credits this experience to her current placement at the Orsulic Laboratory. She was also involved in MCDB Departmental Honors, a year-long program where students conduct individual research under a faculty advisor, culminating into a full thesis. When asked about the impact of undergraduate research on her career path, Zahra says, “It completely changed my career path. I always had a passion for research but never believed I could pursue a career in research. My undergraduate research gave me the confidence that I can pursue my passion as a career.”
1. How did you first get involved in your research project?
I knew I wanted to gain research experience when I transferred to UCLA but knew how tough it can be especially for transfers to get a position in a lab. I signed up for a biomedical research minor prerequisite class (BR10H) and gained experience working with Drosophila. I loved this class and successfully applied to the biomedical research minor. I was able to get placed into my current lab, the Orsulic laboratory, with the help of the biomedical research minor. The faculty of the minor really helped me gauge my research interests and suggest labs that would be a good fit for me.
2. How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?
One word I would use to describe my research experience at UCLA is transformational. It is such a privilege to have access to mentors that are leaders in their field. I find even only as an undergraduate my perspective is valued and for me that has been quite empowering as a scientist.
3. What is your year and major?
4th year, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
4. What is one piece of advice you have for other students thinking about getting involved in research?
Getting involved in research can be a very intimidating process, and if you have even a sliver of interest in research try to pursue it one step at a time. The experience will be so valuable regardless of the outcome.
5. Have you attended a conference before? If so, can you describe your experience on preparation, presenting, etc.?
Yes, preparing was a bit stressful getting all my data together and creating a fluid story about my research project. However, once I was fully prepared, presenting was so much more fun that I expected. It was exciting answering questions about my research project and it even helped me think about my research in new ways.
6 .Have you had your work published? Can you talk about what that process was like?
Not yet 🙂
7. What are your future career goals?
I hope to attend graduate school after taking a gap year or two.
8. Please list any URC/departmental programs you are/were involved in.
MCDB departmental honors, Biomedical research minor
9. What was the impact of undergraduate research on your career path?
It completely changed my career path. I always had a passion for research but never believed I could pursue a career in research. My undergraduate research gave me the confidence that I can pursue my passion as a career.
Meet Priscilla Yang! Priscilla is a recent UCLA graduate who received her B.S. in Bioengineering with a minor in Geography/Environmental Studies. She was involved in the Undergraduate Research Fellows Program (URFP) during the 2022-2023 academic year, a two-quarter program that supports UCLA students who are conducting a life science, physical science, or engineering research project with a UCLA faculty. Additionally, Priscilla was a 2023-2024 Internet Research Initiative Scholar (IRI), a program that supports research that addresses aspects of technology development, social trends or problems, ethics, and/or justice relating to the Internet. One piece of advice Priscilla has for undergraduate students thinking about getting involved in research is to “…prioritize good mentors — look for labs and professors who build uplifting learning environments and have a teaching style that works well for you! (I.e. Are you hoping to work 1-on-1 with a graduate student who is very hands-on? How often do you hope to talk with your professor about your research?).”
1. How did you first get involved in your research project?
I first got involved with my environmental engineering research after learning about my TA’s PhD research during class. I was excited about the impacts of such research, so I reached out, set up a meeting, and slowly got trained in the lab over the next couple of months!
2. How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?
I’ve had a very transformative and exploratory research experience at UCLA! I had the opportunity to join a variety of research projects: environmental engineering research at a formal UCLA lab regarding microbial technology for contaminant cleanup and wastewater treatment systems; co-leading a student-run research group as part of the Biomedical Engineering Society’s Research Team surrounding hydrogels for insulin delivery; and an individual creative research project through the Internet Research Initiative exploring music as a communication medium in healthcare. Through all of these, I found the fun in hands-on learning through experiments, critical thinking in experimental design and data analysis, and an overall passion for maneuvering between various scientific fields by using fundamental principles. Research at UCLA was also a key driver in my graduate school pursuits!
3. What is your year and major?
I just graduated in Spring 2024 with a B.S. in Bioengineering and a minor in Geography/Environmental Studies.
4. What is one piece of advice you have for other students thinking about getting involved in research?
My biggest piece of advice for students thinking about getting involved in research is to prioritize good mentors — look for labs and professors who build uplifting learning environments and have a teaching style that works well for you! (I.e. Are you hoping to work 1-on-1 with a graduate student who is very hands-on? How often do you hope to talk with your professor about your research?)
5. Have you attended a conference before? If so, can you describe your experience on preparation, presenting, etc.?
I had the opportunity to attend the BMES (Biomedical Engineering Society) Annual Meeting 2023 in Seattle during the fall! It was an enriching experience overall- my main reason for attendance was to present a poster about my research project within the Internet Research Initiative. Leading up to the conference, I worked to finalize my poster design, as well as draft, edit, and practice my pitch talk over and over. During the actual presentation, it was a lively atmosphere of students ranging from undergraduate to postdoctoral levels. Typically, the flow of events occurred with passerbys being interested in my poster title, me presenting my pitch talk, and them interacting and asking questions afterward. I even got to network on LinkedIn with fellow students as well!
Beyond presenting my poster, an unexpected yet useful experience I had at the conference was interacting with graduate school representatives at their booths. Since this was around the time where graduate school applications were being submitted, I was able to talk to current students at the programs I was looking at, along with admissions officers who provided application tips. Even better, a few schools offered application fee waivers just for your attendance! Beyond academic work, I was a volunteer for both the national BMES organization and the UCLA department of Bioengineering. Thus, I got to meet a variety of like-minded bioengineering students; moderate and learn about cutting-edge research panels; and share my personal experiences at UCLA bioengineering with prospective students! Overall, it was a worthwhile experience, and I’d encourage interested students to look into funding resources (Undergraduate Research Center fund, Academic Affairs Commission Travel Fund, etc) to help mitigate costs and make travel more accessible.
6. Have you had your work published? Can you talk about what that process was like?
I have not had my work published.
7. What are your future career goals?
I will be pursuing a master’s in Biomedical Engineering and a graduate minor in Entrepreneurship at Northwestern University this fall! Beyond that, I aspire to gain industry experience in the biotechnology space and potentially pursue a PhD and MBA in the future.
8. Please list any URC/departmental programs you are/were involved in.
Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (URFP) – 2022-2023
Internet Research Initiative Scholar – 2023-2024
9. What was the impact of undergraduate research on your career path?
Undergraduate research at UCLA played a pivotal role in my pursuit for graduate school in my career path. The creativity, critical thinking, collaborative, and communication skills that I developed through research have been instrumental in my career path, carrying me beyond the lab bench and into industry roles!
