Through the University of Washington's College of Engineering, the Alliances for Learning and Vision for Underrepresented Americans (ALVA) Genomics Outreach for Minorities (GenOM) program is one that targets students from ethnic backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in the STEM fields who will be attending UW and are interested in genetics and genomics. Students that are chosen for this highly selective program come to the university the summer after their senior year of high school for a nine week residential research intensive. As a student in this program in 2012, I participated in laboratory techniques and bioethics training and took a variety of courses including chemistry, mathematics, and biology. In addition to this, I was paired with a research mentor in a genomics research laboratory on campus where I was responsible for conducting an independent research project.
Of all my experiences at the University of Washington, the ALVA GenOM was the most exciting, transformative, and influencial because of the people it allowed me to build relationships with and the doors that it opened for me. While the program only lasted nine weeks, the friends that I made during this time truly became family and remain my closest friends to this date. This program also gave me the amazing opportunity to join the Bamshad lab in the Pediatrics Department in the Division of Genomic Medicine and gain crucial insight into the field of genomics research. During my time in this lab, I not only became an award winning research presenter, but a published scientist in one of the top genetics research journals as well. The members of the Bamshad lab have allowed me to grow into a more independent scientists and become more confident in my own abilities. Throughout the four years that I have been a part of this team, I became a part of a dynamic and innovative community; an experience that I will forever cherish.
In the summer of 2015, my experience with the ALVA GenOM project came full circle when I participated again; this time as a counselor and a laboratory techniques instructor. As a counselor, I lived for nine weeks in the dorms along with the students in the cohort and had the role of being both a mentor to the students and serving as a catalyst to building a community among them. As one of the laboratory techniques instructors, I helped to build the curriculum and lead lectures that aimed at teaching the students about the basic bench skills essential to becoming a successful researcher. Working in these roles as a former participant in the program was such an affirming experience. It was very rewarding to see my students begin to form strong relationships with one another and get a better grasp of research and biological concepts. Being a part of this program, both as a participant and a part of the staff, only further convinced me of its ability to change lives and give an opportunity for students who could otherwise become lost in the University system to really shine and build the stepping stones for a productive time at UW.
Of all my experiences at the University of Washington, the ALVA GenOM was the most exciting, transformative, and influencial because of the people it allowed me to build relationships with and the doors that it opened for me. While the program only lasted nine weeks, the friends that I made during this time truly became family and remain my closest friends to this date. This program also gave me the amazing opportunity to join the Bamshad lab in the Pediatrics Department in the Division of Genomic Medicine and gain crucial insight into the field of genomics research. During my time in this lab, I not only became an award winning research presenter, but a published scientist in one of the top genetics research journals as well. The members of the Bamshad lab have allowed me to grow into a more independent scientists and become more confident in my own abilities. Throughout the four years that I have been a part of this team, I became a part of a dynamic and innovative community; an experience that I will forever cherish.
In the summer of 2015, my experience with the ALVA GenOM project came full circle when I participated again; this time as a counselor and a laboratory techniques instructor. As a counselor, I lived for nine weeks in the dorms along with the students in the cohort and had the role of being both a mentor to the students and serving as a catalyst to building a community among them. As one of the laboratory techniques instructors, I helped to build the curriculum and lead lectures that aimed at teaching the students about the basic bench skills essential to becoming a successful researcher. Working in these roles as a former participant in the program was such an affirming experience. It was very rewarding to see my students begin to form strong relationships with one another and get a better grasp of research and biological concepts. Being a part of this program, both as a participant and a part of the staff, only further convinced me of its ability to change lives and give an opportunity for students who could otherwise become lost in the University system to really shine and build the stepping stones for a productive time at UW.