Let’s Get This TRIP Started! by Claire Jang

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!

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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.

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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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