Eden O.

My name is Eden Olekh, and I am a rising sophomore at Juanita High School. I have always known that I wanted to experience working in a lab, but until now, I hadn't truly known what it would be like or what skills I would be using. The Fred Hutch Explorer’s Program gave me the best opportunity to understand what working in research feels and looks like, as well as the many possibilities that exist within the field. 

Personally, I love working hands-on and meeting new people. This made the hands-on lab sessions, guest speakers, and connecting with other students my favorite moments. It was my first time in an actual lab, far different from the countertop labs I’d done in the past. The instant I used a micropipette; an exhilarating smile appeared on my face. It was the moment the labs stopped feeling like fun activities and started feeling like actual research. I knew it was going to be a crucial skill, especially after I had accidentally added way too much of each material in the previous lab where we extracted DNA from a strawberry. As I listened to the experiences of people working in science, I began to imagine the amazing careers I could have in the future. This program not only helped me think about my career, but it also allowed me to connect with and learn from other students. 

Our first time in the lab!

I learned so much in this program, and I hope to continue using this knowledge. I now have a foundational understanding of how important laboratory techniques like gel electrophoresis, PCR with BRCA1 and CML, and CRISPR work, learning how they can be used, with each success making me more confident. My knowledge of cancer also increased significantly as I learned about current solutions, the hallmarks of cancer, oncogenes, and tumor suppressors. It was incredible to see how these concepts were being used in current research during lab tours at both Fred Hutch and the Allen Institute. These tours allowed me to see the research that takes place in different fields and the advanced machines that make it all possible. 

   Our first gel electrophoresis (with dye)!

Learning to pipette by making a color wheel!

Before I started this program, I thought my day would be full of lectures and a short lab, something similar to what we have in school, which I also enjoy. But I was hugely mistaken; the program was engaging, interactive, and exciting. I am extremely thankful for the people who made it this way and helped out in any way with the Explorers Program. This experience has helped set me up for success in my dream career in research by giving me hands-on experience and allowing me to learn. I definitely want to pursue a career in research—where I feel like I belong, and I am hopeful to continue to be part of the Fred Hutch community and am optimistic about the opportunity to be part of a lab in the near future. 

Making our PCR with BRCA1!