For my summer vacation this year, I got a great opportunity to observe and shadow researchers working at TRIPM (Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine) at GMU. In this one month period, I have a chance to see and be a part of the various ongoing projects related to cancer cells and their behavior/ treatment.
Right from the first day there has been so much to learn and gain knowledge about the field. I am exposed to various procedures related to tissue culture and introduced to a variety of new technologies and different kinds of microscopes/equipment that are used in laboratories. The doctors have even given me permission to practice some basic lab skills involving pipetting and weighing compounds!
Each day has something new and exciting to offer; I try my best to make the most out of it. Observing the different processes practically helps instill the steps involving them which is better than when we had to just read and memorize about them in senior school. To sum up, the past two weeks of ‘shadowing’ scientists researching and performing different experiments has been an extremely enriching and fun-filled experience. It has helped me form a clear picture and understanding as to what the field of research actually is and has further inspired me to continue with the path that I’ve chosen to pursue: a future researcher-scientist.
Name: Engila Khan
Training Site: Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, GMU
Observation Period: 15th July – 11th August 2018
Major: Biomedical Science
Expected Year of Graduation: 2021