Sonia W.

The Fred Hutch program was an amazing experience! Everyday was better than the last. I thoroughly enjoyed the lectures on the current research at Fred Hutch. Touring labs explained the institution’s inner workings and showed real examples of science in action. In the educational lab, I learned how to use various  lab equipment, all of which I found to be interesting and fun. The hands-on opportunities, often coinciding with a recent lecture, allowed us to see scientific theories proven in real life experiments. Aside from the amazing science and technology that I was exposed to in the program, I was very fortunate to have a wonderful group of individuals to work with. Everyone in my cohort was friendly and collaborative which created a positive environment. Overall, the Fred Hutch Explorers program was an unforgettable experience and my only wish is that it lasted longer!

The amazing session 1 cohort

The main highlight of the experience was the lecture and lab tour from Dr. Stoddard when he explained the process of solving protein structures. It was fascinating to learn about this process and its importance. I was captivated by the process to solve the structure of a protein, a challenging multistep procedure which takes revolutionary chemistry and technology to achieve. An equally interesting portion of his presentation included an excerpt from modern history when scientists were attempting to send crystallized proteins to space as a single step in the process of solving a protein structure. After  Dr. Stoddard’s presentation, students observed the x-ray crystallography machine, which plays a crucial role in creating a 3-D structure of proteins.. It was neat to see the machine we just learned about and understand the components which make it effective (including a gorgeous disco ball hanging in front of it). Dr. Stoddard's work showed me the importance of basic science and opened my eyes to its many possibilities.

Crystallized proteins under the microscope

X-ray machine in Dr. Stoddard's lab

            Another important highlight of my time at Fred Hutch was the tour of the flow cytometry facility. This was not a traditional lab with a set scientific question to answer, but rather a space filled with complex and costly machines used by scientists all over the area to test their samples. I appreciated the groundbreaking technique of the machines and was fascinated by the software used to present the data, finding it astonishing that a researcher could place cells inside the machine and be provided with graphical data in return. This was meaningful to me because of my own experience with a research project and the data collection generated a lot of busy work. That busy-work minimized the amount of time I had to analyze  the results of my experiments. Observing a software that was able to remove all of this extra time for the scientists and allow them to focus on  analyzing the data, with multiple variables, was mindblowing for me. The flow cytometers allow us to study cells in an efficient way and I feel honored that I was able to witness its capabilities.

Flow cytometry machine being loaded with samples

            This program exposed me to research in an impactful way and opened my eyes to the possibilities it can provide. After experiencing the Fred Hutch explorers program I am thrilled to say that a research career is now very appealing to me. In closing, I want to say a special thank you to Dr. G, the TAs, our alumni helper, and to all the employees at Fred Hutch who spent their time with us.