 Wayneho Kam |
Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School, Class of 2007
Cary, North Carolina
Summertime means many things to different people. For me, the period off from school entails just one thing: finding a breakthrough in scientific research.
Dr. Chignell made this a possibility by offering me a summer fellowship in the Department of Pharmacology and Chemistry. Early each morning, I commuted from Cary to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences building at Research Triangle Park. I anticipated something invigorating every day within the eight-week time frame. My access badge granting authorization into the campus represented the key to the depth of knowledge and experience I have yet to gain.
Surrounded by motivated professionals and a plethora of resources provided me a strong foundation in skill development, as well as a glimpse to what a career in science is like. Two words—tremendous satisfaction—come into mind. The idea of running and producing a research project that involves the latest techniques in the field stimulated my enthusiasm. From preparing buffers and solutions to conducting biological assays and writing records of observations, I greatly enjoyed this world of exploration.
I carried out elaborate procedures such as single-cell gel electrophoresis, while analyzing the effect of antibiotics and ultraviolet radiation on human skin cells. After the experiments, I executed calculations and explained my findings in a research paper. The art of investigation is a grand mystery and one that I do not hesitate to spend hours solving. Was it the toxic hydrogen peroxide that killed the cells? Did sunlight, chemicals, or the combination of the two formulate the particular toxin?
Certainly my enrollment in the fellowship goes beyond the information textbooks can even start to offer. My full-time job expanded the abilities I acquired in my previous internships at Duke University Medical Center and North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. It tested my laboratory performance I attained at my high school's Advanced Applications of Biotechnology class taught by Dr. Cobb.
The whole experience proved to be quite a memorable. I don't know if it's just me, but it will be hard to trade a minute working at NIEHS for a minute surfing at the beach or hiking in the mountains. Someday in the future I will look back and proudly proclaim, "The Summer of 2006 was a productive era in my life." Even during the times when I should be sitting on my couch at home, learning functional principles and potentially saving individuals triumph over anything else.
Many thanks to Dr. Chignell for being the best mentor a student can look up to and Ms. League for coordinating such a successful program. I extend my appreciation and gratitude to biology teacher Mr. Greenberg and calculus instructor Ms. Alexander for recommending me for the job.