Student
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As an alumnus of Washington University, I reflect on my college years and am astounded by how much I learned in classes ranging from chemistry to politics to literature. However, the experiences that stand out most of all are those I had not sitting in a lecture hall, but working in the lab of Prof. Sarah Elgin in the Department of Biology. The insights and skills I gained from my time in the Elgin Lab not only enhanced my undergraduate education, but equipped me with the knowledge, experiences, and skills I needed in order to gain acceptance into the graduate program of my choice.
I began to work in the Elgin Lab the summer after my first year of college. Though I lacked experience, Dr. Elgin was willing to take me into her lab. She recognized my potential, invested in my abilities, and provided for my training. On top of allowing us to conduct experiments, Dr. Elgin took time every week to meet with me and the other undergraduate employees for discussion of the biological principles behind our research. She did not simply hire us to perform menial tasks, but invested time to make our summer engaging, challenging, and truly educational.
After gaining experience in the lab, I was eligible to apply for an undergraduate research fellowship, which I was awarded in the summer of 2002. The fellowship provided funding for me to work for a summer under Dr. Elgin's guidance on my own research project. I had several opportunities to present my results in poster format, including undergraduate symposia at Washington University and the University of Chicago as well as a national scientific meeting for the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in San Diego. Presenting my results to fellow undergraduates, interested faculty members, and competition judges, I solidified my knowledge of the science and improved my presentation skills.
Working full-time in the Elgin Lab, I had numerous interactive experiences that helped me to understand the inner workings of scientific research. In lab meetings as I explained my experiments and presented my results, I discovered the importance of seeking advice from colleagues. In journal club, I realized how essential it is to understand the relevant scientific literature and learned how to critique a journal article. In grant meetings, I learned about the process of competing for research funding. As well, in the lab I developed an appreciation for the accuracy, caution, and attention to detail required to be a successful investigator and acquired practical skills that continue to serve me as I carry out research on the graduate level.
In addition, my work in the Elgin lab allowed me to garner several scientific awards, which greatly improved my application for medical school. These included a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, membership in the Sigma Xi honor society, graduation with Latin honors, and the Spector Prize for my senior thesis. Without research experience, I would have never been eligible for such recognition.
Working in a research lab also provided me the chance to become closely acquainted with a faculty member. Given the opportunity to monitor a student's progress and talk one-on-one, faculty mentors can write a very personal and persuasive letter of recommendation on behalf of their students, which is crucial for applications to graduate or professional education programs. At a large institution such as Washington University, students often find themselves at the end of their junior year with hollow recommendations from professors they never really knew. Having worked for Dr. Elgin for two years by the time I applied to medical school, I was confident that she would be able to accurately portray my abilities, accomplishments, and potential for success.
My research experience also helped me to define my career goals. Since childhood, I had wanted to become a physician, but working in the Elgin Lab opened my eyes to the potential for a career in research. Designing and carrying out experiments helped me to realize that I wanted to do more than see patients; I also wanted to contribute to the fight against disease through biomedical research. Thus, I applied to various M.D./Ph.D. programs and am now enrolled in the NIH-supported Medical Scientist Training Program at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. Without my training under Dr. Elgin, I never would have expanded my career goals to encompass research, nor would I have ended up where I am today.
Finally, my mentor encouraged me to synthesize my three years of research data in a senior honors thesis. At first, I was reluctant, not thinking I would be able to undertake the daunting task; however, she was confident in my abilities and convinced me to forge ahead with the writing. I would consider my thesis the pinnacle of my undergraduate education, the culmination of my successes at the bench. The writing process truly stretched my abilities and challenged my intellect, but resulted in a piece of work I will always look back upon with pride.
In summary, my time in the Elgin Lab infiltrated the dormant corners of my mind with hands-on learning, a deeper curiosity, and new modes of thought. Indeed, my research experience took the information taught in lecture halls and brought it to life, changing me from a passive observer to an active participant in the field of science and I am grateful for the excellent opportunity I had. I consider my research a vital addition to my undergraduate education, for a true consciousness of the academic world comes by formulating questions, designing experiments, and finding answers through investigation.
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