STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Meet Cara Susilo! Cara is a fourth-year Bioengineering major, currently conducting research at the Kamariza Lab focusing on protein engineering with Cas enzymes, and culturing and extracting genomic DNA from non-tuberculous myobacteria. Cara has attended several national conferences, including the Biomedical Engineering Society Conference and the American Society for Microbiology Conference, and was recently published as a second author on her lab’s first publication. Read Cara’s full interview below.

1. How did you first get involved in your research project? Tell us a bit about the lab you are in and the research you are conducting (if possible)!

I became involved in research during Winter Quarter of my freshman year where I joined the Kamariza Lab in the Bioengineering Department. For most of my time, I worked on project demonstrating how solvatochromic trehalose probes can not only detect drug resistant tuberculosis, but differentiate between susceptible and resistant TB using a plate reader as a low cost and point-of-care friendly readout. I was also fortunate to join this project from its inception all the way to publication, and as one of the first members of the Kamariza Lab, I have had the pleasure of watching it grow! Today, I’m working on two new projects, specifically focusing on protein engineering with Cas enzymes, and culturing and extracting genomic DNA from non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Our lab is incredible diverse and supportive, and the graduate students do an amazing job ensuring undergrads have quality mentorship.

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

My research experience has been incredibly positive. I was able to strengthen technical skills and solidify my own research drive as I worked throughout the year, and opportunities to present within my department and during Undergraduate Research Week has been helped me in this process. The support I received from my department and URC has significantly impacted my experience, and I am thankful for the opportunities I’ve had throughout the last four years!

3. What is your year and major?

Fourth year Bioengineering

4. What is one piece of advice you have for other students thinking about getting involved in research? As a transfer student yourself, do you have advice specific to other transfer students?

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and send that cold email! Research gives so much more than just technical skills, you also learn how to do data analysis, develop scientific literacy skills, and participate in science on such a hands-on level. Show your passion and willingness to learn, and the opportunity will come to you.

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

I have attended several national conferences including BMES and ABRCMS. Preparing the poster or oral presentation is sometimes challenging, but you get to really understand the science as you make it. For poster sessions, a lot of grad students and even professors stopped by. It was slightly intimidating at first, but I ended up connecting with other exciting undergrads and people in academia at all levels. They also gave really helpful feedback on presenting and also other possible experiments which I could bring back to the lab.

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

I recently published as a second author on our labs first publication! The majority of the process was spent performing experiments, discussing the data, and performing follow-up experiments. As my grad student was writing the manuscript, I helped write a couple of the methods and captions, and helped proofread before we submitted. I also performed some of the revision experiments. While there were many late nights and early mornings, seeing the publication accepted made the work worth it.

7. What are your future career goals?

I hope to go to graduate school to pursue a PhD in Bioengineering or Chemical Engineering. Afterwards, I plan to enter the biotechnology industry as a scientist.

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

During the summer of my freshman year, I participated in the URC Sciences Summer Program which funded summer research. In the spring of my second year, I was awarded the UC LEADS Fellowship. With their support, I could continue developing other essential research skills, and participated in the Summer Research Training Program at UCSF this past summer as part of their second summer.

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

Prior to joining a lab, I was less inclined to pursue graduate school and wanted to go straight into industry. But throughout the past couple of years, I found value in graduate school, especially in further specializing within bioengineering, and refining scientific skills on the bench. I’ve gained an appreciate for graduate work as well, and in seeing my own grad student’s experiences, I have been inspired to go to the next level.