“Do science on your own terms.” That’s what Dr. Guppy, an ex-researcher turned scientific liaison for the Hutch, said during his presentation on our second day into the program. It was the first time I’ve ever heard of this kind of job, and it got me curious. How big is the science industry? After 12 more days and getting to the end of the program, I am still comprehending the number of people and amount of communication needed to be in the science field.
During my time in the 2023 Fred Hutch Explorers Program, I was able to pick up and learn skills that would open endless opportunities for me in the future. When we were learning, it wasn’t formatted into generic lectures and lessons, but engaging activities, interesting speakers, and descriptive scenarios that helped broaden and deepen our knowledge for the topic at hand. Kristin, a cancer patient diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), was our main story and we were introduced to a revolutionary treatment, immunotherapy, which utilized genetically engineered T-Cells to kill cancerous cells within the body. With Kristin’s case and other information that was taught along the way, we brought that into our labs that helped strengthen our understanding and provide an experience every young scientist would dream about. The labs were extremely fun and helpful focusing on applicable topics like PCR, CML, CRISPR, etc., where we learned how to pipette, use gel, and a number of other necessities in the lab.
Our training lab where we conducted all of our labs
(Taken during our CRISPR lab)
Although our labs were done in pairs, we were able to witness the organization needed to work in a lab through our in-depth tours around the huge campus of Fred Hutch. I noticed that throughout our tours, each lab shared something in common: a need for teamwork and communication. Each lab had positions from lab technicians to graduate students to post docs. Whether it was in the Moens Lab or the Parkhurst Lab and despite position and qualifications, everybody worked together to achieve a common goal: a new discovery or a mistake they can build on for future experiments.
Moen’s Lab Tour, Zebra Fish Enclosure
Even though all labs and research are dependent on the scientists conducting it, a big percentage of research is also aided by highly advanced machines and tech. During our numerous lab tours we were able to see a variety of machines costing from thousands of dollars to millions. Each machine serves a purpose in leading scientists to discover new ideas and theories. The one machine that stuck out to me was the X-ray crystallography microscope that belonged to Dr. Barry Stoddard’s lab. Costing a couple hundred thousand dollars, I found it fascinating how much power and tech is needed to be able to study proteins and what we were able to see once the x-ray was finished. When I exited the lab, I had gained more knowledge about his research, what takes place in a lab, and about the science industry as a whole.
Image of the X-ray crystallography microscope in Dr. Barry Stoddard’s lab
Although I still have much to explore, the Fred Hutch Explorers program has opened the doors for me to explore what else the science world has to offer. The intricate lessons, intriguing tours, and the exciting labs offered in the program are experiences I will ever forget and will continue to look back on in the future.