Research

Neuroscience:

Research Intern, Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute:

The only high school student to be selected after a rigorous interview process to work at the Johnson Lab in Center for Integrative Brain Research (CIBR). I have enjoyed learning everything from imaging techniques, microscopy, bacteria preparation, and all aspects of industry research work under Dr. Simon Johnson.

  • I am cited as co-author on 2 publications based on the experiments I performed for the lab, that are under peer-review. Scheduled for publication in March 2023.

  • I have written a protocol on the nematode growth medium and one on performing timed-egg-lays with various larval stages of C. elegans for the Johnson Lab, to be published on the CIBR website.

  • I conducted experiments with halothane (a volatile anesthetic) to test anesthetic sensitivity of C. elegans with genetic mitochondrial diseases, particularly Leigh’s syndrome. For this, I have written a third protocol that is under investigation by the lab PI (Principal Investigator).

  • I conducted microscopy to analyze samples to determine the genotype, neurodevelopmental stage, and neurological effects of applied anesthetic on C. elegans.


Junior Researcher, University of Washington, Center for Neurotechnology, Restorative Technologies Lab:

  • I was a junior researcher for Dr. Sarah Mondello and Dr. Chet Moritz at the UW Center for Neurotechnology in the Restorative Technologies Lab.

  • I completed tissue analysis using Image and FIJI, quantifying laminin in the spinal cords of optogenetically-modified rats with spinal cord injury.

  • I learned particle analysis of rostral, caudal, and spine lesion imaging, and analytic techniques to provide data for optogenetics experiments. This work uncovered results for future use in finding solutions to Parkinson’s disease.

  • I have been acknowledged in a UW CNT Restorative Technologies Lab publication describing these results. This is under peer-review scheduled to be published by Feb 2023.


High School Intern, University of California at Irvine (UCI), Pathak Lab:

  • As a remote intern during COVID:

  • I received training in neural stem cells, cell culturing and bioengineering lab techniques, the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1, and brain organogenesis.

  • I learned a variety of software techniques, most notably FIJI analysis on immunostained cell/tissue cultures. As a full-time intern during summer before junior year:

  • I performed patch clamp analysis and leak subtraction on 100+ files of Piezo1 electrophysiology experiments and wrote the standard lab protocols for 2 different procedures. These protocols are currently being used by members of the Pathak Lab.

  • I am LHAT Certified to work across any California UC Labs. I took multiple UC courses to train for the internship.

  • Authored a paper on the ethics on brain organoids (Neuroethics). Published October 2022.


Clinical Intern, Neurological Associates of Washington:

I was a clinical intern for Dr. Casey Carter Nazor, a Neurologist, at the Neurological Associates of Washington. This furthered my understanding of the clinical aspect of medicine and neurology. In the clinic, I helped Dr. Nazor set up for her patients, observed different diagnoses and diagnostic techniques for psychiatric and neurological disorders, and shadowed Dr. Nazor during her interactions with patients.