Summer Undergraduate Research Program - Fred Hutchinson ...

critical thinking skills. My intimate involvement with an ever-evolving project demonstrated
the rewards, as well as the setbacks, associated with ongoing translational research.
My current research post has brought me to one of the foremost research institutions on the
west coast–the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. I am working as a research technician
in the laboratory of Dr. Allen Cooper in the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. As a technician for
the HVTN Endpoints group, I have been introduced to the demanding, high-pressure
environment surrounding clinical research. In the Endpoints section, accuracy and
reproducibility are of the utmost importance to the success of the lab as a whole. Whether
encouraging or disheartening, the results of the endpoint assays are invaluable to the
development of a safe, efficacious vaccine. With this at stake, I have developed an elevated
sense of accountability for my actions in the laboratory and a steadfast commitment to my
involvement in long-term projects.
As someone who has drawn heavily from a diverse series of research projects, my affinity for
the MCB program is based on its multi-departmental approach with an open rotation policy. Of
particular interest is the work of UW/FHCRC faculty members Michael Bevan, Julie McElrath,
Leonidas Stamatatos, and Julie Overbaugh.
In McElrath's HVTN Laboratory, I am intent on becoming more involved in research associated
with vaccine development. For example, I am interested in elucidating the mechanisms by which
virologic control is achieved in certain HIV-infected individuals. The local/international duality
of clinical research contributed by McElrath and Overbaugh suggests a commitment to global
health projects designed to provide biological and clinical advancements in HIV research. Their
involvement with populations with characteristically high risk of HIV infection coupled with
studies of viral pathogenesis combines bench work with field-oriented work--a fusion I aspire to
practice in my future.
I am also intrigued by Bevan's analysis of the maturation of CD8+ T cells and the regulation of
their responses to self and foreign antigen. I strongly believe that the progression of clinical
research in infectious disease requires an increased commitment to efforts in basic
immunology. Stamatatos' work with the interaction between HIV Env glycoprotein and target
cell receptor molecules is the epitome of cutting-edge research in host-pathogen dynamics.
Together, their insightful publications and seminar presentations have led me to seek a doctoral
degree and a future in academia. I am interested in serving as a faculty member of a major
research institution, dividing my time between my students in the classroom and those in my
laboratory.
I am confident that my experiences thus far have served as excellent preparation for a doctoral
program in molecular and cellular biology. As any practiced investigator can attest, the ability
to forge collaborations between scientists in many fields is vital to success. My range of
experiences has enabled me to learn a tremendous amount through the exchange of ideas at
different institutions. I am forever indebted to my mentors for having shown me the hostpathogen
dynamics associated with veritable public health concerns. I am eager to begin
establishing my long-term presence as a research scientist in the partnership between FHCRC
and the UW.
145