Getting the opportunity to have real lab experience was something that both Sophie and Melody cannot believe they had the chance to partake in. The instructors, such as Dr. Kay and Dr. G, made the experience both enjoyable and easy to understand for beginners. We hope they know how much we appreciated this internship and are so thankful for being chosen for this opportunity.
Here is Uzair with his results from the strawberry lab
Unlike the labs in school, at Fred Hutch we had the chance to use our knowledge we gained from our teachings to create our own protocols. All the labs we participated in were hands-on compared to the ones in school where most science classes we have taken in the past haven't offered us that aspect of science.On the very first day of the internship we were given a list of materials and had to create our own procedure to extract DNA from strawberries. While at first the tasks seemed a bit daunting, it turned out to not only be an amazing experience, but was actually successful across the cohort.
Melody and Khammy are micropipetting samples into a 96 well plate
During labs we were introduced to new tools that we had only heard of in scientific journals or movies. Pictured above is Melody using a micropipette, something for which she had never done before this internship. Using such advanced technology like micropipettes, centrifuges, gel electrophoresis, and more was way beyond what we had expected when applying.
Sophie and Seble above are using CRISPR to edit genes
In one of Sophie’s favorite labs we got to use CRISPR, a gene editing tool. This lab stood out since it was one of the more independent labs we took part in. We got to prepare and mold our own gels for gel electrophoresis. Sophie, along with her lab partner Seble, were able to use knowledge from their past mistakes to design a protocol that was more successful. This lab also taught them the level of precision that is necessary in a lab setting.
Here the cohort is listening to a lecture from Regina Wu about proteins
Not only did we do labs almost every day of the internship, but we also got to meet many Fred Hutch researchers, employees, and graduate students. We listened to many insightful lectures about cancer, proteins, infectious diseases, the immune system and immunology, cells and ways cells are used to treat disease, as well as so much more. Being in a small group we could get all our questions answered. We also got guidance on next steps, such as college, other internships, and career advice.
Melody, Temnesera, Faduma, Khammy, Raihan, and Kenza hanging out during incubation period
Leaving this internship, not only are we walking away with much more knowledge, but we also have lasting friendships. We connected with peers who share similar interests from all over Washington who otherwise we most likely never would have met. While Sophie and Melody are excited to see what happens next for both of their futures, they will miss the people they met during their time here at Fred Hutch as well as the experiences they had.