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The Next Generation of Medical Innovators: Meet the MGRI Summer Students!

By Nicoletta Valenzano, MPH | Summer Students | 0 comment | 23 August, 2023 | 0

This summer, over 1,200 undergraduate and graduate students came to Massachusetts General Hospital to participate in summer research training programs.

These programs provide students with invaluable exposure to research in an academic medical setting and create new opportunities for learning, networking and mentorship.

We talked to 30 summer students from across Mass General to learn more about them and their experiences this summer.

Thanks as always to all the Mass General researchers who open up their labs each summer and donate their time and resources to teaching the next generation of scientists!

Katya Tjahaja attending a Red Sox game during her summer in Boston.
Katya Tjahaja attending a Red Sox game during her summer in Boston.
Jack Terry and fellow members of the "B-lab" (Bertolet Lab) on his last night in Boston.
Jack Terry and fellow members of the "B-lab" (Bertolet Lab) on his last night in Boston.
James Adeosun working on loading a qPCR plate.
James Adeosun working on loading a qPCR plate.
Noorullah Imran and fellow student Jinyoung Kim, from the Hasan Lab this summer. Kim worked on and presented his work continuing the project Imran worked on last year. Both of them won awards for this project at their respective culminating conferences.
Noorullah Imran and fellow student Jinyoung Kim, from the Hasan Lab this summer. Kim worked on and presented his work continuing the project Imran worked on last year. Both of them won awards for this project at their respective culminating conferences.
Chailyn Swenson and Cielo Carnate standing together before they did their final presentations.
Chailyn Swenson and Cielo Carnate standing together before they did their final presentations.
The Nehs summer lab team.
The Nehs summer lab team.
Aislinn Mershon and the Rahme Lab at a 2023 lab dinner.
Aislinn Mershon and the Rahme Lab at a 2023 lab dinner.
Amel Nurhussien and fellow students after shadowing a Neurosurgeon in the OR.
Amel Nurhussien and fellow students after shadowing a Neurosurgeon in the OR.
Ariana Chavez pipetting in the tissue culture hood in the Mierau Lab.
Ariana Chavez pipetting in the tissue culture hood in the Mierau Lab.
Ariana Chavez taking a break after using ImageJ on multiple calcium images.
Ariana Chavez taking a break after using ImageJ on multiple calcium images.
Submitted by Adarsh Aratikatla
Submitted by Adarsh Aratikatla

What research did you perform this summer?

"I worked on two main projects: an epidemiological study focused on neuropsychiatric lupus and a focus group study to explore how patients evaluate the benefits and risks of lupus medications. I thought it was cool that while the two projects differ greatly on the scale, they’re both helpful for guiding more personalized treatment recommendations."

- Grace Lee, Jorge Lab, The Mongan Institute

"I am working on the iDECIDE study, which is evaluating a drug education program in middle and high school students who are caught with drug-related infractions in school. I am interested in this research because so many people my age do not know enough about the effects that drugs like nicotine have on a growing brain and body."

- Francheska Furtado, Schuster Lab, Center for Addiction Medicine

"The aim of our research is to understand how genetic mutations in neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism, alter the formation of brain cell networks in early life."

- Ariana Chavez, Mierau Lab, Lurie Center for Autism

What year in school are you?

From high school to doctoral programs, see where the 30 students we interviewed are at in their educational journey for the upcoming school year.

Untitled design (21)

Where do you go to school?

Our summer research students come from schools across the United States and around the globe. Check out where the 30 students we interviewed are studying on the map below!

University of Cambridge

What are you studying?

While summer research students do tend to major in topics related to science, math, engineering and technology, the breadth of their knowledge is impressive.

wordcloud

Why did you want to be a summer research student?

"I was fascinated by the combination of metabolism, sleep, and anesthesia that allows for revolutionary breakthroughs in patient care."

- Abigail Hardy, Nehs Lab, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine

"Research is an integral part of advancing science. Being involved in a cutting-edge laboratory and understanding through first-hand experience how science works and research is done is beneficial for my personal growth and career as a scientist."

- Katya Tjahaja, Soukas Lab, Center for Genomic Medicine

"What drew me most to this lab was the people inside of it. The chance to work with highly competent, thoughtful, and motivated researchers in the all-too-important field of healthcare economics felt too good to be true, and I have been grateful to be a part of this team since my very first day."

- Myra Bhathena, Clinical Economics and Policy Analysis, Mongan Institute for Health Policy

"Choosing this program has not only strengthened my love for neurology but it solidified my decision to pursue neurology as a profession. I was FASCINATED at how this semi-small part of our body controls us completely!"

- Amel Nurhussien, MGH Youth Neurology Program

"Coming from a smaller institution, I was extremely excited to be a part of a program with so many opportunities for undergraduate students. Being surrounded by some of the best researchers on the planet has taught me an incredible amount. I knew joining a program like this would give me priceless research experience, and it certainly did."

- Chailyn Swenson, Irimia Lab, Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery

About the Mass General Research Institute
Research at Massachusetts General Hospital is interwoven through more than 30 different departments, centers and institutes. Our research includes fundamental, lab-based science; clinical trials to test new drugs, devices and diagnostic tools; and community and population-based research to improve health outcomes across populations and eliminate disparities in care.

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