STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Meet Kimberly Jorge! Kimberly is a third-year Human Biology and Society major with a minor in Chicana and Chicano studies. She has been involved with the URC – Sciences Summer Program, a 10-week program designed for undergraduate students to undertake research with a UCLA faculty and receive professional development through workshops and seminars. Through this program, Kimberly is now a California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP) scholar, which she credits for helping with her public speaking skills, as well as opening up doors for additional opportunities to present her research. Kimberly is currently preparing to present at the CAMP Scholars Symposium, and plans to become a pediatrician in the future! Read Kimberly’s full interview below.

1. How did you first get involved in your research project?

I got involved with my research project/lab due to the PEERS (Program for Excellence in Education and Research in the Sciences). They held an event where we could meet potential faculty looking for undergrads and that was where I met my mentor, Dr. Hayes.

2. How would you describe your research experience at UCLA?

My research experience has been amazing. Admittedly, coming into UCLA I was very nervous to venture out and get involved in research as I had little exposure to what research consisted of. However, due to PEERs and my mentor, research has helped me gain confidence in skills consisting from lab skills to networking, etc. I’ve gained so much knowledge about the lung cancer field that I otherwise would not have been exposed to and am excited to continue learning these next couple of quarters.

3. What is your year and major?

I am a third-year HBS (Human Biology and Society) major with a minor in Chicana and Chicano studies

4. What is one piece of advice you have for other students thinking about getting involved in research?

Look at sites such as Handshake or ask around to learn about labs. Put yourself out there as scared as you may be. Most importantly, when interviewing or thinking about potentially joining a lab, ensure you will have a great mentor who can guide you and that the overall lab environment makes you feel comfortable as you will be around this environment a lot.

5. Have you attended a conference before? If so, can you describe your experience on preparation, presenting, etc.?

I have not yet presented at a conference and will be doing so soon. I will be attending the CAMP scholars symposium where I will present my current findings on a poster. I have been in the process of gathering materials and thankfully my mentor has been there to guide me along the way. She has helped me feel prepared by giving advice and feedback whenever needed. I have presented in smaller settings such as the URC-Sciences Summer Program where at the end of our 10-week session we presented on what we did during our 10 weeks in the lab. My mentor also has us present in our lab meetings to begin facilitating our public speaking skills.

6. Have you had your work published? Can you talk about what that process was like?

I have not had any work published yet.

7. What are your future career goals?

My future career goals are up in the air. I know I certainly want to become a pediatrician but am constantly going back and forth on if I would like to pursue a PHD/MD or just continue with my original plan of getting an MD.

8. Please list any URC/departmental programs you are/were involved in. How has your experience been as a CAMP Scholar?

This past summer I was involved with the URC-Sciences Summer Program which was a 10-week full-time program. This program helped me develop the skills I would need for this school year to begin independently working on my experiments/projects. Through this summer program, it is how I became a CAMP scholar. Overall being a CAMP scholar has tremendously helped in my public speaking skills due to the presentations we had during the program and during our research seminar. Not only has it helped my public speaking, but has opened the door to opportunities of presenting my own research which I otherwise probably would not have done. This current school year I am part of the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program where I can continue working in my lab and then present my work/submit a paper, helping me gain more skills in the research field.

9. What was the impact of undergraduate research on your career path?

It has led to me seeing the many different career paths I can take, and really hone in on what exactly I would like to see myself doing in the future. As of now, it’s created some confusion on what path I’d take, but I know this is all part of the process of figuring out what is best for me.