 Hello everyone! My name is Claire Jang, and I am a sophomore at Parkland High School in Allentown, PA. I am so grateful to be a part of the TRIP family and have the opportunity to enhance my growing pathway as a young scientist! I became involved in TRIP because I am deeply passionate about advancing the boundaries of scientific knowledge and hope to eventually find genuine applications for my research. I’ve always dreamed of pursuing a career in the medical field, and TRIP seemed to be the perfect chance to gain some experience in a lab environment. I also look forward to interacting with like-minded peers and receiving advice from my instructors!
 In school, I am a member of the debate team and mock trial team. Throughout the years, my experience in both these clubs have helped foster my growth in public speaking, allowing me to carry more confidence in the way I present myself. Not only have I quenched my fear of speaking in front of a crowd, but I have learned to embrace and even enjoy doing so. I have also learned to improve my teamwork, research, and writing skills. I’ve been working on these skills to restart my school’s March for Our Lives club, and I hope these skills will be useful once again for the upcoming symposium in April! In addition, I play the cello and am a part of Honors Orchestra and Serenata Strolling Strings. I continue to foster my passion for STEM while being a part of my school’s science fair club, biology club, and Math Honor Society. Outside of school, I volunteer at my local St. Luke’s hospital where I can directly connect to members of my community and see doctors in action! I have been slowly working my way towards folding 1,000 paper cranes out of sticky notes. As of January 18, 2026, my current count is at 173.  On our first day at TRIP, we learned how to use a micropipette and create fly food for our kickoff experiment. It was a wonderful experience getting to meet my classmates and teachers for the program. Everyone was so kind and welcoming! We also had the chance to take home a vial of fruit flies to observe their development. I hope my tiny guests enjoy their stay the next few weeks at my house. I can't wait to see what the next few weeks will entail!
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 Hi everyone! My name is Cassandra (Casey) Kim, and I am a junior at North Penn High School. I joined TRIP because I wanted to gain experience working in a lab and learn from like-minded peers and mentors. I have always been a naturally curious person, and TRIP was one of the few programs I found that allowed students to pursue their own interests through independent study.  My love for STEM and research comes from my own personal experiences. I’ve had severe Atopic Dermatitis all my life, which is why I eventually want to go into medical research to help further our understanding of these conditions and find treatments for others like me. However, it’s safe to say that skin is a major interest of mine, as it led me to found my own nonprofit last year, the SkinHope Initiative, a student-led organization dedicated to inspiring hope in the community through skin advocacy and awareness. Conveniently, this also feeds into my love for public speaking, as I find myself presenting for SkinHope quite a bit. In school, I serve as the president of my school’s Model United Nations, where we debate everything from AI to conflicts in alternate dimensions. I love practicing debate and teaching others to do the same. I’m also heavily involved in my school's Healthcare Occupations Students of America (HOSA) chapter, where I had the pleasure of competing in the International Leadership Conference this past year for my event of Researched Persuasive Writing and Speaking (a mouthful, I know). Aside from my STEM-ish activities, I also love taking Latin. As a 4-year Latin student, I’ve developed a deep love for Roman history and studying etymology. Even though it’s a dead (I like to say “dying”) language, it still has its uses, as it’s amusing to notice a Latin derivative in the wild here and there. As for my FUN facts: I love to crochet, play Tetris, and if I’m busy, you can usually find me blasting some worship music.
Yesterday at TRIP, we learned how to micropipette and make fly food for our Kickoff Experiment. Specifically, my question will investigate the effect(s) of head trauma on fly anxiety. It was so amazing to meet Dr. Austria, the instructors, Dr. Valdés and Dr. Maskalenko, and the TAs, Hannah and Sabina. Everyone was so welcoming and kind (even to my endless stream of questions), and I loved being in the lab with such enthusiastic people. I am so grateful to be a part of this outstanding program, and I can’t wait to see where TRIP takes me.   Hi everyone! My name is Aanya Deshpande, and I am currently a junior at Downingtown S.T.E.M. Academy. I wanted to become involved in TRIP because I have a passion for science, specifically in biomedical technologies and research. I want to help others receive accurate medical diagnoses quickly, so that they do not have to struggle with not knowing the exact problem. I have also always been interested in the “how” behind science, and I believe that TRIP would be able to add fuel to that curiosity. I also wanted to gain a broader understanding of working in a lab and develop my current knowledge about biology. Now, a little about me: The three things that I absolutely could not survive without are my family, my friends, and Spotify. My family and friends would describe me as honest, funny, and an AirPods fanatic! Right now, my favorite artists are The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars (I just got his concert tickets!), Tyler, the Creator, Kendrick Lamar, and Childish Gambino. I also really enjoy travelling, no matter how short the distance is. I recently visited Florida over winter break, and I spent a lot of time on the beach! Some of my favorite extracurriculars are martial arts and dancing, which I have been involved in for almost my whole life. These sports have taught me discipline and how to take care of myself, and I would not trade them for anything! My newest hobby, and guilty pleasure, is creating Spotify remixes on repeat.
 In school, I am a co-vice president of Aevidum, a nonprofit meant to break the stigma around mental health. I am a huge mental health advocate because everyone faces hardships regarding mental health, and I want to be able to help in any way I can. I have also been a Powderpuff cheer coach for the past three years, and I have made a lot of friends doing it! Recently, I became a volunteer for the National Honor Society, and I volunteer at local elementary schools. I have volunteered through tutoring, science fairs, and literacy nights; I enjoy being able to give back to the community in any way I can! Outside of school, I am a marketing director for Project Red Poppy, a student-led organization to spread awareness about veteran hardships after war. I am also an ambassador for the Harvard OpenBio program, in which I advertise networking opportunities and guide speaker conferences. I have been able to meet with many professionals in the biotechnology field, and I gained a lot of insight as to what their work entails. The research question that I chose for the kickoff experiment was “Does intestinal inflammation impact adult fly anxiety? Can diet have a protective effect?” I am curious as to what the results will be for this experiment, and I am very eager to begin working! I unfortunately could not attend the first session because it was unsafe to travel due to the weather, but I am very excited to perform the experiment next week!
 Hello! My name is Dylan Goodman, and I am an 11th grade student at William Tennent High School! Through my sophomore year of high school, I initially learned about TRIP, finding the aspect of hands-on research and scientific learning an amazing opportunity; however, after applying and getting rejected on my first attempt, I was driven to want to continue trying. I immersed myself in various scientific environments, such as being co-president of Tennent’s Women in Science and Engineering club, Junior Officer of the Science National Honor Society, contributing to advocacy of science by being a Chief Science Officer of Bucks County, shadowing doctors of different professions, and several other activities that have sparked my interest. Knowing how important learning more about STEM is, especially when trying to figure out what to do in the future, I reapplied for TRIP and was given the honor to contribute in the 2026 session!  So, a little about myself…While I strive to be a hard working student, I also love to have fun! I love traveling with my parents to places I have never been before. My favorite destination so far is definitely Rome. I can be incredibly extroverted and friendly, always trying to help others and make new friends. In my free time, I enjoy reading different books, specifically classics. My favorite of all time is The Great Gatsby! When relaxing, I have the best time cuddling with my cat and my pet pig. Along with these things, I try to practice the violin and piano as much as possible. A little fun fact: I am actually a first-degree black belt in Kenpo Karate!  In school, I involve myself to the best of my ability. I am my class president and help advocate for what the class wants, yet also plan events for everyone to enjoy. I am the secretary of a volunteering organization called Key club, secretary of the National Honor Society, an active member of our Student Government, a violinist for my school orchestra, contributor to a science outreach program, and am a part of many other organizations along with what I listed earlier. In addition to these activities, a major part of my life currently is focusing on my project for AP Research which involves researching and creating an awareness campaign surrounding a specific subtype of cutaneous melanoma that is not commonly known. Ironically, although taking this course in school, I do not know much about what research is. Because of this, having the opportunity of being a part of the TRIP community is not only exciting, but hopefully clarifies my interests in research!  On the first day of TRIP, we already delved into learning to use different instruments, getting to know one another, and making fly food. When walking into the classroom, I was honestly quite nervous to begin, but after meeting the wonderful instructors: Dr. Austria, Dr. Valdes, and Dr. Maskalenko, I felt very encouraged and excited for what was to come! We started with expectations, and then moved to micropipetting, which is something I have never done. Then, toward the end of the first session, we began our kickoff experiment by making fly food. This made me look forward to our next session even more as we will actually start to observe the fruit flies. While I understand the importance of science and research on the surface level, I am thankful that TRIP will allow me to explore research, challenge myself with new approaches, and allow me to work hard in an encouraging and motivating environment. Although I have just begun, I am looking forward to being able to design and conduct my own research. For my kickoff experiment, I will be observing if soap-induced intestinal inflammation impacts adult fly anxiety through Vitamin D3. As the TRIP has just started, I am ready to learn, grow, and research!
So, to introduce myself I should probably tell you a little bit about me. I talk probably too much, participate in probably too many things, and am excited probably too often. In my school, I participate in marching band, student government, WISE, the musical, flag football and more! As you can probably guess, my schedule is always packed and I'm never home on time. However, I wouldn't trade my late nights and exhausting afternoons for the world. Each club I participate in allows me to express a different version of myself. I have also met some of my closest friends through these activities. Outside of school, I have interest in music, clothing, and other activities. Along with the fact that I am probably the loudest person you know, I'm probably also the most colorful. I love to wear fun earrings and outfits to lift my mood. My music taste bounces all over the place depending on the season, right now I’m feeling folksy for the winter time. To keep myself even more busy, I volunteer at a cat shelter on Mondays. Though I love fuzzy animals, my pet snake will always have my heart. I also enjoy traveling with my family whenever I get the chance.
On my first day of TRIP, I had never used a pipette or worked with flies, so everything I did was brand new. I was a bit nervous, thinking that I was underprepared for my first day. However, the first day went much better than I expected. Everyone was so kind and I learned so much. At first, I didn’t know how to set up the equation for the percent of drugs given to the flies. Then, my peers and teachers helped me and I felt so much better. Micro-pipetting was surprisingly enjoyable and I think I’ll only get better at it. Making the fly food was very new, but it was interesting how the calculations were made. I think making more calculations in the future will be easier because of the packets and the hands-on experience I got. Overall, I’m very excited and much less nervous than I felt coming in. I can't wait to see what TRIP has to offer. Science is my favorite subject, but I have yet to learn what career I want to pursue in the giant world that is STEM. The first day was amazing, and I'm enthusiastic to see where it takes me!
 Hello! My name is Sharizoda Farmonova and I'm currently a junior at William Tennent High School. I like to get very involved in academics, but outside of school, I typically babysit my cousins or work. In my free time, my hobbies include reading, art, and playing games; admittedly, I sometimes watch horror gameplay because I paralyze in front of the screen if I try it myself. The kind of art I do includes painting and crafting, as well as embroidery, if you count that. I also love spicy food and bears. I mean, who doesn't love the sensation of all their taste buds on fire, and who wouldn't love a huge cute animal that could deliver a force impact of over half a ton to your face?
All right, pivoting away from that, I first heard of TRIP through my peers and teachers, and made sure to make a mental note that this could be a fun science program to get into. I really wanted to be in a professional lab environment, working to develop experience and insight on the field of research, as well as meet peers that have similar interests and prospects. I'm really glad I applied, and wasn't discouraged by the super small acceptance rate, because it turned out to be way better than I thought.
The first day of TRIP involved introductions to peers, TAs (Sabina and Hannah), and instructors (Dr. Austria, Dr. Nick, and Dr. Valdez). I was in Session A and really liked meeting everyone since they were so nice and open! Although it was probably a little awkward at first, everyone put in effort that made communicating much easier and flow well. The TAs and instructors also were a big help when starting the work in the packets and lab, especially since they tried to ensure everyone was on the same pace. Reflecting on some of their guidance, I definitely need to step up my game in conversions in solutions and dilutions! The best part was when we actually started using the micropipettes and other laboratory equipment to make the food for the fruit flies. I was worried that I would not have enough time to finish, but thankfully received some help from Dr. Nick to get the fly food. Honestly, around the end, it felt like MasterChef, a cooking show, and I could practically hear the countdown in my head (and I was only making fly food!). Overall, the first day of TRIP was great and I can't wait to be there next week! ₍₍⚞(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⚟⁾⁾
 Hello everyone! My name is Akram Aboras, and I’m a sophomore at William Tennent High School. After hearing about TRIP from my AP Seminar and Anatomy teacher, I was instantly drawn to the program and extremely enthusiastic to apply. I joined TRIP because I’ve always been very interested in science- biology, neurology, and psychology being my favorite branches- and I’ve always loved learning more about the field. Additionally, I’d love to someday pursue a career in healthcare where I can not only treat patients but also conduct my own research and discover new findings in a lab; I knew that TRIP would be a great opportunity to develop my laboratory skills and techniques early on, which is an opportunity I haven’t had before. It’s such a great opportunity to be a part of a program like this, where I can not only learn more about science and experience what it’s like in a lab setting, but also collaborate with other like-minded peers that share similar interests.  I enjoy spending time involving myself in my school and community through my extracurricular activities. At my school, I’m a member of Key Club, Student Government, and I’m the vice president of our school’s Muslim Student Association. I’m very passionate about my extracurricular activities and using them to give back to my community in meaningful ways. It feels great to engage in community service activities and help others because we’ve all been in positions where we needed a helping hand from someone else; it’s such a privilege to be able to extend that hand to someone else as others have for me. I also love dedicating myself to my many hobbies. One of my favorites is baking desserts with my twin sister, as I find spending time in the kitchen endlessly fun- experimenting with new ideas and concepts like I hope to do in TRIP. Some of my other favorite hobbies are also artistic such as doodling, painting, and writing poetry. I think art is such a fun way to unwind; I love taking my thoughts and feelings and expressing them through my art and writing. Furthermore, I feel that art is such a strong way to convey not only emotions and feelings, but powerful and meaningful messages about important topics such as the environment.
Yesterday was my first day of TRIP, and so far it’s been a really good experience! Everyone there was very nice and it was really neat learning how to micropipette and make food for the fruit flies. There were definitely times I got confused along the way and made mistakes, but I’m enthusiastic for the next sessions as I learn more and get better at the techniques. I’m very excited for my kickoff experiment, centered around how disrupted circadian rhythms affect fly sociability and the impact of Melatonin in their diet, and I can’t wait to learn more and eventually analyze and observe the results of my experiment! So far, TRIP seems like the start of a long journey filled with science and collaboration, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me!
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