Before high school, I was never exposed to the scientific world of research. I’ve been learning the sciences for as long as I remember but there was no research involved. My first introduction to scientific research was when I began college as a freshman. Everyone was telling me how the U of R medical centre was a leading facility for scientific and medical research. So considering that I was and still do lean towards a career in healthcare and medicine, I decided to give research a try.
Pre-major advisors and freshmen fellows, along with upperclassmen advise students to get involved with research so that students can get a feel of the research environment at the University of Rochester. The U of R is one of the leading research universities in the United States – not only for the natural sciences, but also for the social sciences and humanities. They advised me to send emails to the professors who I’d be interested in working with. I scoured the University of Rochester Medical Centre’s Neonatal research directory and emailed professors! And then began volunteering in a lab! I volunteered there for two semesters and still hope to do so.
I believe that this introduction to research helped lay the foundation for me to get further research opportunities during the summers when I went back home to Singapore.
This summer of 2012, just after I had declared my Microbiology and Immunology major, I interned at a lab in the Hepatology department of a hospital in Singapore. The lab’s research involves working with the Hepatitis B virus and has many projects going on. I had the opportunity to work with a PhD student and another seasoned lab member on one of their projects. Although I am still starting out in the field of Microbiology and Immunology, I feel this internship gave me some great insight into how research on one of the most plaguing viruses in the world works. The World Health Organization mentions that Hepatitis B is caused by the Hepatitis B virus that can then seriously damage the human liver and estimates that around two billion people are already infected. It mentions that the Hepatitis B vaccine is only a 95% insurance against it.
It was a great feeling to be interning here knowing that somehow, even in the smallest of ways possible, I was doing my part to working towards the better understanding of this virus and its infection and helping the medical and healthcare world work against it damaging effects.
I must say that the research environment was fun! I got to meet loads of new people and everyone is extremely helpful and kind to students willing to learn all about their work! I’ve learnt loads of new research techniques and methods that will help me in my major!
If you get a chance, you should definitely try and volunteer or even work at research labs to see how the environment is and if you like it! You might know then if it is right for you! So send out those emails and work hard! Hard work always pays off in the end, who knows you might find your calling in research!