Support
During my time at the Hillman Cancer Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, I was exposed to a variety of different things. No two days were the same. My overall project consisted of me analyzing PET images of tumor-bearing mice using software called VivoQuant. I would then take the data and create graphs showcasing the trends seen in each tumor model. As I worked on this project, I created a poster for an undergraduate science symposium at Duquesne University. I also prepared a ten-minute talk for fellow students, friends, and family at the end of the 2-month program.
In preparation for my two presentations, I reviewed various papers/studies given to me by the researchers with whom I worked. When I was not working on my specific project, I helped culture and split cells. I also assisted in dissecting mice and calculating tumor weights. We also took images of mice on a weekly basis to see how their tumors grew. While in the office, I was invited to attend weekly lab meetings where I gave updates on what I had completed during the week. For the Hillman Academy program, I prepared weekly five-minute presentations to update my peers and mentors on what I had been working on. I also attended weekly Thursday presentations given by various UPMC faculty. During these presentations the mentors, researchers, and professors discussed their career paths and answered any questions we had. Overall, it was a terrific experience that will undoubtedly have a long-lasting positive impact on my academic development at St. Lawrence. It will also influence my postgraduate/career decision making.