TRIPping Into Science: My Journey at Fox Chase Cancer Center by Maahi Patel

This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to be a part of the Teen Research Internship Program (TRIP) at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Initially, I set into this program to expand upon my laboratory technical skills and overall scientific knowledge. However, over the course of the program, I learned increasingly more about myself as a learner, collaborator, and potential scientist. The TRIP program portrays itself as a program to help students get more interested in STEM-based careers. Their commitment to introducing students to all aspects of STEM careers is truly impressive. From guest speakers in administrative posts, hospitality, and clinical residents, TRIP truly allows its students to think which angle they’d like to learn more about and how it is more suitable to their interests. TRIP is an incredibly balanced program with educational in-lab assignments, extensive guest speakers, and continued support in developing a STEM community.

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Starting a week before the actual start date, we were provided ample material to educate ourselves on the topics we would be using to experiment and conduct procedures. The optional supplemental packets on google classrooms truly led me to get a start on the technical language and procedure of the program while also not pressuring me to complete it. The assays we completed daily were incredibly similar in nature. The three assays that we performed were the open field assay, female fertility assay, and the negative geotaxis assay. Throughout all of these experiment days, we were always provided with a demonstration on how to properly conduct the procedure and with a further explanation of it in the beginning morning lecture with Dr. Austria. This made the assays incredibly concise and simple to perform and allowed me to complete them comfortably in the time frame given.

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Most importantly, we were provided quite some independence in choosing which variables to include in our experiments. This led to me choosing to study the effects of Vitamin E and head trauma on the fertility, motility, and sociability of fruit flies. We prepared flies in four different conditions and used these vials in each assay throughout the week to quantify different data. The process was far from perfect, and I didn’t always get the results I wanted, but that only taught me to persevere and still approach the assay with as much confidence as my other more reliable results. The data eventually suggested that a combination of Vitamin E and head trauma has a contrasting effect that slightly improves the sociability of the flies. The same goes for the mobility and activity of the flies in the negative geotaxis assay. The only peculiar results were the combination of the head trauma and Vitamin E actually incredibly decreasing female fertility and viability of their embryos in the female fertility assay. These results could be due to a variety of other third-party factors as well which were mentioned when I interpreted my data and presented my conclusions.

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While the main goal for me was to gain more research experience, TRIP also provided a valuable resource in the form of people. TRIP arranged guest speakers who were incredibly insightful and helpful in providing information and more resources for us if we were interested in pursuing their prospective careers. There was a topic for everyone in these lectures since they included different tiers and areas of working in a hospital. The one that spoke to me in particular was the one given by Dr. Mgbojikwe on our first day. Dr. Mgbojikwe explained her career as a hospitalist and her general dislike towards being a clinical physician. One of Dr. Mgbojikwe's most valuable points was that it’s alright to veer towards different paths and try something new. The road to a permanent career is challenging and usually divides your decisions. That is why you should make decisions about your career at your own pace regardless of the path that is “usually taken”

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Most importantly, TRIP cemented my future in the STEM world. I have been looking at pursuing a career in research or as a clinical physician. TRIP showed me both sides while also allowing me to participate in engaging experiments throughout the program to develop my technical laboratory skills. TRIP emphasized that everyone at Fox Chase was a part of the STEM community and how they valued unity as an organization above most things. This truly spoke to me which allowed me to enjoy the whole experience and all of the wonderful people I met. Above all else, I enjoyed the strength of the Fox Chase community as a whole and how much it persuaded me to definitely pursue a career in something similar. 
Looking back on the experience, TRIP was an incredibly welcoming space where I further developed my future as a scientist and a student willing to take on even the most difficult challenges. I learned that research isn’t always giving you the expected results, which can be frustrating, but the journey still shapes you in so many ways. As I move forward in my journey, the lessons I learned during TRIP will always be helpful and stay with me. I have gained so much confidence in my ability to think independently, approach questions in a new way, and conduct experiments using laboratory skills. Whether I pursue a career in research or as a physician, I will always look back at the foundation in STEM that TRIP provided me with for motivation and inspiration. ​

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