Throughout the Brackenridge, I’ve gained an experience I could never imagine. Prior to starting out in my research journey in August of 2022, I thought research was very cut and paste. In other words, you simply follow steps to achieve a certain goal. Little did I know what I was getting into.

In the beginning phases of my research journey, I was responsible for more organizational work, like creating solutions and labeling them appropriately. This was pretty simple, but very necessary to get the full experience of being a discoverer. As the months went on, I developed an eagerness to find a specific project that is both meaningful and will help me learn the caveats of research design and follow-through. As my PI and I got together and discussed, he introduced me to a concept regarding cell cycle plasticity, and I was immediately enthralled. I grasped at the opportunity he had provided me, and this launched my application for the Brackenridge Fellowship.

After a quick two months, I reflect positively on the work I’ve done and the work I’ve learned from my peers. I’ve developed not only a scientific research background, but also one that involves a combination of science and a humanities topic, like cultural history. It’s very rewarding to be exposed to research that is outside of one’s field. Sometimes, scientists are clouded by their work and forget common research principles that all fields use. Being able to recognize the proper methods that you can use to fully appreciate and understand your work is immensely important. With a broad background in research topics and methods, one can be an excellent and collaborative researcher.

With the Brackenridge being near complete, I’ve found myself only yearning more for a life in the research field, and I’m confident that I’ll be working as a physician-scientist in my future. The research that I’m completing through the Brackenridge has changed my life in ways I never would’ve envisioned. This experience is one I will never forget, and I ask anyone who has some tingling feeling to want to go into research to simply do the following: try it.