I Think Therefore, I Fly by Saurish Singh

​Hello everybody! I can hardly believe that this program is already over. It feels just like yesterday I was stepping into the lab for the first time, unsure of what to expect and a little intimidated by all the unfamiliar equipment and procedures. Now, only a few days after it ended, I already find myself missing the excitement of lab work. Over the course of this program, I can confidently say that I grew: not just as a student, but as a researcher. I went from a complete newbie —carrying out my assays and still making mistakes—to becoming a pro at those same procedures. More importantly, I learned that mistakes aren't failures; they are simply part of the scientific process.

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​My independent project focused on a compound many of us consume daily: Acrylamide. Found primarily in fried or high-heat cooked foods, Acrylamide is a known carcinogen and neurotoxin that can cause negative health effects even at relatively low doses. Because it is so prevalent in a modern diet, I wanted to investigate a potential "antidote,” which led me to Sulforaphane, a compound found in vegetables like broccoli and kale. I chose Sulforaphane because it has shown promise in counteracting compounds similar to Acrylamide. The driving force behind my research was the hope of finding a natural, dietary way to mitigate the risks of everyday toxin exposure.

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​To my surprise and relief, the project was a success! I was initially nervous because there wasn't a mountain of previous studies to guarantee my results, but my data spoke for itself. However, the road to those results was bumpy. For example, on the second day when I accidentally deleted over 45 minutes of video data. To make matters worse, I lost most of the conditions from my first set of vials, essentially putting me back at square one. These moments definitely made me rethink my choices; however, I kept going.

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​As the final symposium approached, I was really nervous. Presenting research to an audience is intimidating, but the TRIP community of mentors and peers helped me considerably. I owe a lot to Dr. Austria, who gave me a simple but effective piece of advice to always practice out loud. That one tip built my confidence and allowed me to truly tell the story of my research.

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This TRIP experience has most definitely had a lasting impact on me. It strengthened my passion for science and gave me a firsthand look at the exciting world of biomedical research. While the program is over, the lessons in resilience and the friendships I’ve made will stay with me for years to come. Once again, thank you to everybody who helped me make this TRIP truly unforgettable.

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