Archive for category: Student Spotlight

Meet Bezawit Danna, a 4th year Biochemistry major and Biomedical Research minor who is currently involved in the UC Leadership Excellence Through Advanced Degrees (UC LEADS) Program. UC LEADS provides undergraduate students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with educational experiences that prepare them to assume positions of leadership in academia, industry, government, and public service following the completion of a doctoral degree. Her work was published recently in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, a journal published by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Additionally, Bezawit was involved in the UCLA Program for Excellence in Education and Research in the Sciences (PEERS), an intensive two year program committed to promoting academic excellence and professional development for students dedicated to careers in the life or physical sciences or mathematics. Through PEERS, she also participated in the CARE Fellows Program and Biomedical Sciences Enrichment Program (BISEP). We were able to ask Bezawit about her research experience at UCLA:

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

In my first year, I was introduced to research through the PEERS program, which is dedicated to fostering academic excellence, professional development, and integrating research into students’ experiences. My interest in mitochondrial metabolism research started when I learned about mitochondria, a small yet complex organelle, in my introduction to biology and biochemistry classes. Fortunately, I found out about Dr. Ajit Divakaruni’s lab in the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology through an email announcement from the PEERS program, stating that he was seeking new students. The Divakaruni lab focuses on studying mitochondrial metabolism and bioenergetics in various metabolic diseases such as neurodegeneration, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. After quickly sending my resume and cover letter, I secured an interview and began working in the lab during my sophomore year in the winter of 2022. I am still working in the same lab. Currently, I am working on a collaborative project with UC Berkeley, examining how lipotoxicity affects mitochondrial DNA synthesis in liver cells. I am excited about our collaboration that bridges mitochondrial studies from mitochondrial DNA to metabolism, extending its impact within the broader scientific community.

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

Joining the Divakaruni’s lab without prior research experience was an intimidating and daunting moment at first, but Dr. Ajit Divakaruni and the group have been very supportive mentors, teaching me numerous invaluable skills. They have provided guidance, encouragement, and laboratory skills throughout my research journey, starting with basics of using pipette and always being available to answer my questions. They have made a huge impact in my future path in pursuing research. I am also grateful to the UC LEADS program for allowing me to continue research, with continuous encouragement from Dr. David Gray. Through UC LEADS, I conducted research at UC Berkeley during summer of 2023 for two months. Overall, my research experience at UCLA has been incredibly rewarding, exciting, encouraging, and inspiring.

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

For students interested in research, my advice is to stay open-minded about opportunities and not be discouraged by a lack of prior research experience, as many undergraduates start their research journey without any prior experience. If you are interested in a research program, apply without hesitation. Similarly, when considering labs, take the initiative to reach out to various professors you are interested in and always have confidence in yourself.

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

I presented a poster on my research at the UC LEADS Research and Leadership Symposium at UC San Diego in April 2023. The preparation for the symposium involved deciding which figures to include on the poster and preparing the initial draft. I presented this draft during a lab meeting, received constructive feedback, and incorporated suggestions to edit the poster. Afterward, I presented the final draft at another lab meeting and received approval from my PI, Dr. Divakaruni. As it was my first poster presentation, I wasn’t sure what to expect. During the presentation, we hung our posters in designated spots and stood beside our poster, typically for about one hour and thirty minutes. Attendees including scientist doctors, graduate students, undergraduates approached, asked for presentations, and asked multiple questions. I really enjoyed this poster presentation, gaining valuable insights from doctors, graduate students, and UC LEADS scholars across UC campus.

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

The project I contributed on is titled “The BCKDK inhibitor BT2 is a chemical uncoupler that lowers mitochondrial ROS production and de novo lipogenesis”.

Publishing a research paper takes a while. First, you plan and organize the paper, deciding what data to include. Then, you submit it to journals, where it undergoes review. Often, reviewers ask for more experiments or changes. You then make those adjustments and send it back. This back-and-forth can take a couple of months. It’s a bit of a journey, but it ensures the quality of the research before it gets published. In the case of this paper, it took about five months from the initial submission to the final publication.

6. What are your future career goals?

My goal is to attend graduate school and pursue a PhD in Biomedical studies, with a specific focus on metabolic diseases, particularly neurodegenerative diseases and/or diabetes.

Meet Justin Purnomo, a 3rd year Biochemistry major participating in the UC Leadership Excellence Through Advanced Degrees (UC LEADS) Program. UC LEADS provides undergraduate students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with educational experiences that prepare them to assume positions of leadership in academia, industry, government, and public service following the completion of a doctoral degree. We had the opportunity to ask Justin about his research experience at UCLA:

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

I joined the Neuhauser Group at the end of my first year, which was the result of countless cold emails to numerous chemistry faculty members. I did not know what to expect when Dr. Daniel Neuhauser accepted me into his theoretical chemistry-focused lab, but I am so thankful for the opportunity that I received. In less than a year, I was able to learn how to program in Fortran and the fundamentals of quantum chemistry, both of which are skills the average biochemistry student would not acquire through their undergraduate coursework.

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

I would describe my research experience as both unexpected and fulfilling. As a naive first year at the time, I did not know what to expect going into research. Initially, my goal was to use this research experience to bolster my resume when applying to medical school. However, I grew to love the research and academic environment to the point that I decided to change career goals from medicine to academia. I also discovered my passion for teaching during my time at UCLA, and I realized that I would have something to offer academically by merging my interests in theoretical chemistry and biochemistry.

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

Take initiative! Do your own research on the faculty that interests you, and take the time to understand what kind of work they are doing. If it’s difficult to understand certain topics, I would encourage you to reach out to either the faculty of interest, or even some of the graduate students in the lab. 

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

Yes, I’ve attended a couple conferences. My most recent one was the SoCal TheoChem Symposium 2023, which was hosted at UCLA in October. Though I had prior experience presenting in a conference, this was the first time in which the general audience consisted of graduate students and faculty. As a biochemistry major with limited experience in theoretical chemistry, I was initially nervous about presenting in front of people more qualified than me. However, those who came to visit my poster made me feel welcome by listening attentively and offering insightful feedback. I realized that I had something to offer with my research, and that more importantly, that the academic community was nurturing. Overall, I would say that I grew immensely as a scientist and a presenter through this experience. 

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

I’ve had my work published with the UCLA Undergraduate Science Journal (USJ), which is a student-run organization that helps facilitate the peer review and publication process for undergraduates looking to publish their work. I would strongly recommend making the most of this opportunity, as it’s a good way for beginner-researchers to secure a first publication. The UCLA USJ scaffolds the writing of the manuscript in a manner designed not to overwhelm, and walks with students every step of the way to ensure a smooth publication process. I personally found the process to be enjoyable and rewarding, and I am already looking forward to reading the research papers published in next year’s UCLA USJ!

6. What are your future career goals?

I plan to pursue a PhD in chemical biology, where I hope to leverage my theoretical chemistry background to solve biological problems. I am particularly interested in using computational tools to better understand protein structure and biological processes. After obtaining my PhD, I would like to become an instructional university professor focusing on the intersection of biochemistry and molecular biophysics. 

Meet Ryan Wong: a sophomore in the pre-Computational and Systems Biology major, an interdisciplinary major at UCLA. This past summer, Ryan was part of the 2023 URC-Sciences Summer Program, a 10-week opportunity for UCLA undergraduates to undertake research with a UCLA faculty and receive professional development through workshops and seminars. We had the opportunity to hear more about Ryan’s research experience at UCLA:

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

Few other organs in the body are as important as the brain; it controls everything! Isn’t that interesting? So many things can damage it but we don’t have any reliable methods of healing or prevention. That’s why the Geschwind Lab’s research in neurological disorders caught my eye as I looked for opportunities for my sophomore summer. I reached out and quickly found a positive and supportive work environment where I learned about different modern computational techniques and applied them to the research project I’m working on now.

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

I can only say that it’s been a blast! Conducting research in science is remarkably different from studying science in a classroom. My lab and research have given me a space to freely make mistakes, to grow, and explore topics that I find myself continuing to ask questions about! I’m fortunate to have a great mentor who supports my personal and professional goals, and it’s only allowed me to grow my experience in academia even more.

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

So many people experience imposter syndrome when they first get involved in research. But it’s important to realize that everyone starts from somewhere. Whenever I face these struggles, I remember that the only way I can grow is by challenging myself, and that I can rely on my mentor to guide me.

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

As part of my last research program, I presented at a poster presentation among my peers. It’s definitely a nerve-wracking experience and I couldn’t help but compare my project with the others’. Thankfully, my mentors were there to help and support me throughout the way, giving me a fresh perspective on my presentation and helping me anticipate questions. When it finally came time to present, I was no longer nervous and actually realized that presentations are an amazing forum for scientists to share their ideas, meet like-minded individuals, and become interested in the research in and out of their field!

5. What are your future career goals?

I hope to pursue an MD-PhD and one day contribute to improving the health of our communities!

Meet Hanna Hoang, a 4th year undergraduate at UCLA majoring in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics. Hanna is currently a part of the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP), a scholarship program that supports students conducting a research project with a UCLA faculty member. Her work was published earlier this year in Neuro-Oncology, the official journal of the Society for Neuro-Oncology. We had the chance to interview Hanna about her research experience at UCLA:

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

My first year at UCLA was online, but I still wanted to get involved in research. I found out about CURE, or Collaboration in Undergraduate Research Enrichment early on in my freshman year. It’s a club that gives students looking to get into research at UCLA mentorship resources and workshops on how to get their foot in the door with research. So, whilst taking remote classes, I was able to write cold emails to several different labs that I was really interested in. I was super lucky to get placed in the lab that I’m currently in: the Vlashi Lab. I always knew I wanted to explore the field of cancer research, and I am nothing but grateful to be a part of this lab, where I get to do exactly that! Coming into the lab as a sophomore, I was completely new to research. But, under the guidance of my PI and mentors in the lab, I saw myself growing as a researcher, improving not only my technical skills, but also my critical thinking.

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

I would say that my time in conducting research at UCLA has been a rich, and truly immersive experience, one that truly allowed me to experience what the world of research was like. It was truly invaluable to be able to talk to so many people and glean as much knowledge as I could from them. I loved hearing about the diversity of motivations that people had for pursuing careers in science, which in turn made me even more excited to pursue a career in this field as well! Being a research-heavy university, I truly feel that UCLA provides so many opportunities for students to get involved in research, whether its through free informational workshops, or scholarship programs.

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

I would say that it’s very easy—and normal—to feel overwhelmed by the myriad of laboratories and distinguished professors engaging in such fascinating and important research, especially when you are an undergraduate looking to get involved. But my number one piece of advice is to remember that you don’t have to know everything. No one expects you to know how to culture cells or perform a Western blot perfectly on your first try. And when you’re applying to labs, don’t feel discouraged if you don’t have much (or any) research experience at all. Most labs want to see your willingness to learn and grow. As long as you have that, the rest will follow!

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

My work recently was published in Neuro-Oncology as part of the publication “M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase rewires glucose metabolism during radiation therapy to promote an antioxidant response and glioblastoma radioresistance.” It was a long, but immensely rewarding, experience, especially for the senior members of my lab. On my end, it required repeating experiments many times to ensure our results were consistent and publishable. After the paper was submitted, we all felt a wave a relief. However, waiting to hear back from the journal was the most nerve-wracking part. When we finally got the news that our publication was accepted, it was such exciting, yet relieving, news! One of my favorite moments was when our lab celebrated with a potluck in the Botanical Gardens afterwards.

5. What are your future career goals?

It took me a while to solidify my career path, but I ultimately plan to pursue a PhD after graduating. The precise subject I plan to study is still undecided, but it will definitely have to do with translational research involving potential therapeutic applications for diseases such as cancer.

Meet Blake Williams: a 4th year biochemistry major and biomedical research minor. During the Summer 2023 Sessions, Blake was a member of the California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP) program. CAMP is an NSF-funded program shared across nine UC campuses whose goal is to enhance diversity in the STEM fields at the PhD and faculty level by providing financial and professional development support to students from groups underrepresented in these fields. The summer prior, Blake conducted research supported by the UCLA Biomedical Research Minor Summer Scholarship. We had the opportunity to learn more about Blake’s research experience at UCLA:

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

I started in the Spencer lab in spring quarter of my second year, which was my first year on campus due to COVID. The Spencer lab was one of at least 15 labs who I cold emailed when I was trying to get into research, and I was fortunate enough that they responded and had a spot open for me. Before joining the lab, I met with both Dr. Melissa Spencer and Robert, my graduate student mentor, and I talked to them about the lab’s research in gene therapies for muscular dystrophies as well as Robert’s project examining the immune response to systemic gene therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. I began to assist Robert with this project for my first summer in the Spencer lab, and after some interesting findings at the end of the summer I developed my own project that I am now conducting independently. My project examines the mechanisms of how macrophages can internalize AAV, the viral vector for gene therapies, at greater rates due to antibody or complement opsonization and its effects on the downstream immune response.

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

My research experience at UCLA has been very exciting, to say the least. I’ve been able to present my research at the Biomedical Research Minor Summer Symposium last summer, Undergraduate Research Week this year, and at the American Society for Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Annual Meeting in 2023. I’ve learned a lot about the unique challenges of the scientific process and the patience and determination that it takes to do research. Our lab has a lot of collaborators both on and off campus, so I’ve also been exposed to a wide variety of research in the field of gene therapy. In addition to the amazing opportunities and personal growth that I’ve experienced in my lab, I am also extremely lucky to be a part of Dr. Spencer’s group. We have an amazing group of undergraduates, lab technicians, and graduate students and Dr. Spencer is very supportive of all of us. She invites us over to her house for holidays and definitely knows how to party!

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

One piece of advice I have for other students who want to do research is that joining a lab is not a permanent commitment. The beauty of being an undergraduate in a lab is that this isn’t your main job. If the lab you’re in isn’t working for you or there’s another lab that’s more closely aligned with your interests, then it’s ok to switch or even stop research. The most valuable part of the undergraduate research experience isn’t the presentations or publications that you may get out of your time in a lab, it’s understanding how research is done and seeing if you genuinely enjoy it or not.

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

I attended the 26th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) at the convention center in downtown LA earlier this year, where I presented my research with a poster that I collaborated on with my graduate student mentor. The process of preparing the poster mainly consisted of a few meetings with Dr. Spencer and the two of us talking about how we should organize our figures and then bringing back a few rounds of drafts. The poster session itself was a very open format where posters were hung up in a huge main room, and conference attendees could walk around and talk to us if our research interested them. We were at the poster for about 2 hours and we both gave and received a lot of advice! Outside of the poster session, the conference itself was amazing – I was able to hear from scientists from all over the United States and the world, both in industry and academia, who were doing amazing research and had really exciting results. Additionally, I received monetary support to attend this conference from the Department of Neurology, which is the department that our lab is a part of, so the conference cost me $0.

5. What are your future career goals?

My goal is to attend a medical scientist training program to earn an MD/PhD after a gap year continuing with my research in the Spencer lab. As a physician scientist, I hope to specialize in hematology/oncology and start my own lab where I will conduct clinical and/or translational research at the intersection of cancer treatment and gene therapy.