What attracted you to the Seifert Scholars program?
I was in the Seifert Scholars program last year and had a wonderful experience doing full-time research, so I wanted to do it again this summer! It’s a structured program with really no special obligations, meaning students can focus on their research with very few interruptions. Being able to continue the work that I was doing in the spring without stopping was very valuable.
What is your research?
I work in Dr. Lesly Temesvari’s lab with Acanthamoeba castellanii, a species of amoeba that causes Acanthamoeba keratitis, a severe infection of the cornea for which there is currently no reliable treatment. Our lab’s primary objective is to identify a novel treatment for the disease. This summer I focused particularly on attempts to quantify cytokine production by host cells upon infection with the parasite, as well as viability assays using a variety of drugs.
What has been the impact of the Seifert Scholars on your career?
This program has allowed me to gain valuable experience in hands-on research, which will benefit me in graduate school and beyond. I have learned so many useful laboratory and critical thinking skills through my work in the lab, especially after two years in the program.
What is the next step of your career?
I have one year of school left and plan to pursue a graduate degree in biology afterwards. My goal is to eventually have a career in research.