The Start of My Trip! by Laasya Malneedi

Hi everyone!! My name is Laasya Malneedi and I’m a junior at Spring-Ford High School. I applied to Winter TRIP because I genuinely love science and think it is such a great opportunity to conduct real research while taking my own step toward answering bigger biological questions. After having such an amazing experience working with fruit flies as a model organism in the summer session, I knew I had to come back! I hope to work in the medical field in the future, so TRIP is a great way for me to gain important lab skills and hands-on research experience, no matter what path I end up pursuing!

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A little bit about me: I love spending time with family and friends, traveling, and trying new things! A fun fact about me is that I’ve lived in 3 states (Michigan, Kansas, and now Pennsylvania!), which has really sparked my love for exploring and experiencing different places/communities. I also enjoy reading and using art as a creative outlet, especially when helping out at the arts and crafts room at my local nursing home! Volunteering at Paoli Hospital and Phoenixville Hospital is something I also find super valuable, since I love interacting with patients and trying to make their stay a little bit easier. At school, I stay very involved as an officer in my school's Medical Club, VP of Science Club, and an officer for Research Club, where I enjoy participating in science fairs and encouraging others to explore research as well! I’m also the Student Council Secretary, where I get to plan school events/drives, and also helped start a chapter of Morgan’s Message, a non-profit organization centered on creating an open space for students to talk about mental health. Additionally, I enjoy competitions and challenging myself through DECA/HOSA, as well as through rigorous but equally interesting classes like AP Chemistry and AP Seminar! Usually, I love staying busy and having a packed schedule, but when I need a break, my favorite way to relax is spending time with my family, watching movies, or just going out to eat with my sister! 

Yesterday was my first day of Winter TRIP, and it felt great to be back in the lab again! We reviewed micropipetting skills, made fruit fly food, and even got a gift to take home (a vial of fruit flies to observe their development!). It was so fun meeting the TRIP team, especially during our icebreaker competition! Dr. Austria, Dr. Valdes, Dr. Maskalenko, and our TA Sabina were all so supportive and welcoming with clearing any questions or doubts we had. For my kickoff experiment, I’ll be studying whether head trauma impacts fruit fly anxiety and if diet can have a protective effect. I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity to meet so many intelligent and passionate people (doing the photoshoot part was super entertaining!) and can’t wait to see what this session brings. I’m so excited to see what we all accomplish and learn from our results! 

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