Translational Research Immersion Program (TRIP)

Erin Liu

Erin Liu, a sophomore at Haverford College majoring in Chemistry with a concentration in Biochemistry and a minor in Health Studies, plans to attend medical school after graduation and continue research in neurodegenerative diseases.

Through TRIP, Erin enjoyed weekly interactions with physician-scientists and researchers who introduced their work and provided insight into a variety of clinical and translational research careers. Several guest speakers also welcomed her to shadow them, giving her a firsthand look at different areas of medicine and research. She found the Artist-in-Residence experience equally transformative, highlighting the importance of bridging community health and scientific research and demonstrating how effective communication serves as a foundation for trust in science. During the summer, Erin worked with Dr. James Gee in the Penn Image Computing and Science Laboratory (PICSL), validating NEUSEG, a fully automated, interpretable, and unsupervised pipeline for gray and white matter segmentation. By enabling more efficient characterization of histopathology whole-slide images, NEUSEG has the potential to support larger-scale and more robust analyses. Although she entered the lab without prior computational research experience, Erin benefited from the guidance of Dr. Gee and her mentors and looks forward to continuing her research with PICSL throughout the academic year.

Miyaz Ansari

Miyaz Ansari, a Cognitive Science major with a Chemistry minor at the University of Pennsylvania, plans to attend medical school after graduation while continuing research in orthopedics with the goal of pursuing a career in sports medicine.

TRIP provided him with an introduction to translational research through seminars, workshops, and the opportunity to present his own work. One of the most rewarding aspects of the program was his experience in the McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, where he investigated how the acidic microenvironment of degenerated intervertebral discs affects lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-mediated mRNA delivery, research aimed at developing treatments for lower back pain. Entering the program without prior wet-laboratory experience, Miyaz developed fundamental laboratory skills, gained confidence in experimental design and data interpretation, and learned how laboratory discoveries can translate into meaningful improvements in patient care. Through the Artist-in-Residence component, he also strengthened his ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to broader audiences and left the program with a deeper commitment to translational musculoskeletal research and medicine.

Maria Fernandez

Maria is currently a senior majoring in Biology and plans to attend medical school upon graduation. Her experience in this program was enriching. She shared, "I've really enjoyed everything we've done, from the creative activities with the artist-in-residence program to the weekly sessions where we get to hear from amazing doctors and researchers about their research and careers."

Maria emphasized the strong sense of community within the cohort, noting that "everyone is so helpful, and the guidance we receive really clarifies every step for the future."

She had a fantastic experience working with her mentor in the O'Connor Lab, where she engaged in cutting-edge research on CAR T-cell therapy. "It's been an invaluable experience to see the future of cancer therapy firsthand," she said.

Christian Crockem

Christian is a junior Biology-Premed major at Xavier University of Louisiana. He plans to attend medical school after graduation. 

Christian describes TRIP as one of the most fulfilling experiences he's ever had. Through the program, he got to expand his research horizons, learn from accomplished medical professionals, and build friendships with amazing, like-minded peers. He also found the artist-in-residence component unique, noting that translating his research into art provided him with insight into how to bridge the gap between community engagement and scientific discovery.

Christian worked under Dr. Peter Klein studying RNA splicing in leukemia cells. In addition to contributing to research and developing wet-lab skills, he shadowed Dr. Klein in his role as a Hematology attending at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Rebecca Voss

Rebecca is a senior at Haverford College majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Health Studies on the pre-health track. After graduating, she plans to take a year or two to pursue further research and then attend medical school. 

Rebecca describes her experience with TRIP as truly amazing. She found the cohort incredibly inspiring, living alongside and forming friendships with peers who share such a genuine passion for translational research. The TRIP curriculum introduced her to cutting-edge research and helped shape her research interests. Most importantly, she appreciated TRIP's emphasis on fostering quality mentorship, which she received not only from Dr. Oathes, but also from the program organizers and guest professors who supported her throughout the student presentations.

Through TRIP, Rebecca had the opportunity to work with Dr. Desmond Oathes at the Center for Brain Imaging and Stimulation (CBIS), where she investigated methods to personalize both the target location and frequency of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to improve depression treatment outcomes. She has continued working with CBIS in a clinical capacity this fall semester. Rebecca describes working in a lab so deeply committed to improving participants' lives has been incredibly fulfilling and is excited to continue her collaboration.

Colin DeLaney

Colin, a neuroscience major at Swarthmore College (Class of 2025), plans to attend medical school after graduation. TRIP has been instrumental in his development as both a scientist and future physician. His work in the Blendy Lab was engaging and relevant to his translational interests, focusing on the relationship between social defeat stress and the pharmacological basis of opioid abuse in mice. Through his experience, he gained valuable research skills and a deeper appreciation for the connection between bench science and clinical practice. Colin continued working with the Blendy Lab beyond the 10-weeks, focusing on neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) in mice.

Ashrith Kandula

Ashrith is a junior at Haverford College, majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Chemistry. After college, he plans to attend medical school and continue his research in neurogenetics, ultimately contributing to the development of novel treatments. His TRIP experience reinforced his commitment to translational research through exceptional mentorship and a supportive learning environment. The opportunity to shadow his PI in the clinic provided firsthand exposure to the diagnosis and care of children affected by epilepsy, emphasizing the critical connection between bench research and its clinical applications.

In Dr. Eric Marsh’s lab at CHOP, Ashrith investigated the impact of an ARX mutation on hippocampal signaling in a mouse model of Infantile Spasms Syndrome. Using electrophysiological recordings, he uncovered evidence of altered synaptic transmission and impaired cholinergic modulation in this epileptic encephalopathy, potentially revealing underlying physiological mechanisms. He hopes to continue his work in the Marsh lab during his senior thesis by expanding to other neurogenetic disorders, such as those caused by mutations in IQSEC2 and AP3B2.