Flying in the Fast Lane: Fun at Fox Chase by Erin Zhang

​Over the course of five (flying) days, I went on a memorable TRIP with four other high schoolers into Fox Chase Cancer Center (FCCC), understanding the works of a lab, gathering experimental data to answer our own unique questions, and meeting the hardworking people who make the institution what it is today. Each day was packed with exciting opportunities, and each day I left with a newfound feeling of enthusiasm, anticipation, and curiosity as my head began buzzing with new ideas. The career talks, facility tours, and benchwork uncovered a whole dimension of knowledge that my classroom hardly touched, and my dim understanding of a career in research turned into an unexpected realization that I would really enjoy it and I had looked in the right direction. 

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​TRIP Explore was structured so that each day, we would have the chance to hear a career presentation, visit a facility, and work on our assays at the bench, and every activity scheduled was well-paced, cohesive, and perfectly planned. Every morning, we gained valuable advice from someone at FCCC, learning about a broad range of careers, from business operations to nursing to clinical research. Every career I was introduced to was so unique yet evidently crucial to the integrity of FCCC, and more importantly, to the scientific community itself. 

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​Dr. Purdy was one speaker whose words and personality stood out to me greatly. She showed us a picture of a long, random swiggle, explaining that life realistically looked like that, not a perfectly straight timeline. She said that everyone inevitably faces setbacks, deals with difficult decisions, and meets the unexpected, so in fact, it is our job to recognize those roadbumps and embrace them. Dr. Purdy also talked about something else that made me realize my passion for a career in research: underrepresentation in STEM. Her advocacy for equality in such an important area has made me understand that I can and need to make a difference too, and that I change this reality for more underserved individuals by cementing my future in STEM.

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The facilities tours were the most eye-opening for me. Every tour was so informative, comprehensive, and interactive, and I felt so grateful getting the chance to step foot into a biotechnology lab, watch a cell culture facility staff member work on a sample of cells, and visualize how AI could be used to enhance histopathology scans. It was my first time stepping foot into lab facilities so complex yet cohesive and crucial in the world of science, and my curiosity to learn about the works of the many other ones has made me believe that this is the kind of career I want to pursue.

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​My favorite part of a TRIP Explore day was working at the bench. While the extent of new knowledge I learned in the lab was quite overwhelming, mastering new skills, cool techniques, and fun assays was so rewarding. From getting the feel for live transfer (where you transfer fruit flies between vials) to micropipetting nonstop, every day was an exciting opportunity to build my confidence in the lab. My favorite assay, the gut microbiome assay, taught me to be patient, coordinated, and organized on a whole different level, which was definitely a fun challenge for me. After plating my first two conditional groups successfully, I felt like a pro … until on my third round, I spontaneously decided to shake my microcentrifuge tube while the cap was still open and spilled MRS broth on my shirt (oops).

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​Aside from that, new skills in the lab became routine, and five days unexpectedly flew by like nothing. Although analyzing my data was not as gratifying as being in the lab, it was still exciting to draw conclusions from the picture my data painted, and interesting to uncover that my hypothesis was rejected. While I wish we had another week to tour more labs, film reels, and try assays with larvae, my week was nonetheless unforgettable. Working alongside like-minded peers in the lab has made me feel passionate about a future in research, and fond memories with my groupmates, TAs, Dr. Austria, and fruit flies have shown me how much value this program holds. Not only did TRIP cured my summer boredom and unproductivity, but it made me a more competent, intelligent, and confident researcher that I’m so grateful to have grown to be. I’m excited to see what the future holds! ~ E.Z.

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