Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience

About YSERE

The Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience (YSERE) is a free 6-week summer program for undergraduate students who are currently enrolled in an accredited degree-granting institution other than Yale and considering a future career in biomedical research. YSERE seeks applicants who are 1) interested in advancing the goals of increasing diversity in biomedical research and 2) committed and determined to work through difficult challenges. Students from educationally or economically disadvantaged backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply.

The YSERE 2024 program runs from July 8, 2024 – August 16, 2024. Students will participate in an intensive research program designed to expose them to the process of scientific discovery and the path to a PhD or MD/PhD degree. Each student will be matched with a research laboratory at Yale and work on a primary research project within their assigned laboratory for 6 weeks. In addition to conducting a primary research project, students will participate in weekly seminars, career discussions, and related social activities. The program aims to develop students’ skills on critical thinking, analysis of scientific literature, and effective scientific communication.

There is no fee to attend, and each student will receive a stipend. Students are required to make a full-time commitment, Monday-Friday, for the 6-week duration.

The YSERE 2024 is made possible by generous support from Yale Center for Clinical Investigation (YCCI), Yale Cooperative Center for Excellence in Hematology (YCCEH) and Yale Department of Genetics. YSERE 2024 is co-organized by YCCI, YCCEH, Yale Department of Genetics and Yale Stem Cell Center.

To Apply

You will need:

College transcript
Resume or curriculum vitae (including extra-curricular activities)
FAFSA report of Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) - OPTIONAL but inclusion of FAFSA may help determine your eligibility for the program
Personal statement (2-page max): Please describe how your participation in the program aligns with the program’s goal of advancing diversity in biomedical research. Please describe your future goals and how this program may help you achieve such goals. Please share an example (if any) of a major life obstacle you overcame to pursue your education/training. Please feel free to include additional information that you wish to share with us (e.g. your interest, prior research experience etc.).
Two letters of recommendation (one from a science faculty member).

Meet Our 2024 YSERE Interns

Hephzibah Agunbiade
2024 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Hephzibah is a rising senior at Fisk University majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. A native of Nigeria, Hephzibah’s goal is to obtain a dual M.D./Ph.D. in Neuroscience in an effort to improve the quality of life of people with neurological disorders, diseases, and brain function impairments – namely in minority communities. Through her robust laboratory experience, Hephzibah has found her passion for integrating technology with science in innovative ways. Hephzibah has challenged herself to learn MATLAB in addition to Python and JAVA for her previous research projects and successfully developed and implemented a MATLAB program to be used in her research lab after identifying limitations with a previously developed program. Hephzibah joined the YSERE program to apply the skills and experiences she has gained over the years in biomedical research and build on these through new innovative research projects.
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Jessica An
2024 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Jessica is a rising sophomore at the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology. Jessica hopes to obtain an M.D./Ph.D. dual degree and contribute solutions to complex global healthcare challenges. Jessica aspires to apply advanced technologies to reduce medical challenges in her future professional career. Although Jessica is in the early stages of her research career, these aspirations have already resulted in novel findings involving the identification of an algorithm that has a 96% accuracy rate for predicting Alzheimer’s disease. Jessica joined the YSERE program to further strengthen her research skills and knowledge pertaining to experimental design, data analysis, ethical considerations, and scientific communication.
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Dean Angelo Cruz
2024 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Dean is a rising senior at Southern Connecticut State University, majoring in Health Science. As a Filipino-American, Dean is eager about the opportunity to connect with peers and patients to ensure that all communities feel heard and seen in the medical setting. Dean is driven by this passion for patient-centered care and is fluent in Spanish and Tagalog. He is also determined to build on his cultural background and perspective through expanding on his technical knowledge in the laboratory. He is interested in pursuing a career as a Physician Assistant. Dean joined YSERE to expand his current knowledge and familiarity with a multidisciplinary array of sciences.
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Onyinye Ejiaka
2024 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Onyinye is a rising senior at Fisk University majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Onyinye is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honors Society and aspires to become a physician-scientist. She has biomedical research experience, through which she has studied therapeutic treatments for HPV and HIV. Onyinye also has clinical shadowing experience observing clinical trial patients as well as assisting with patients in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). These experiences have shaped her desire to pursue a career that allows her to study medical challenges as they relate to women and children.
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Roma Kale
2024 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Roma is a rising sophomore at the University of Connecticut, majoring in Physiology and Neurobiology. Roma is a Dean’s List Academic Achievement Award recipient and is interested in pursuing an M.D./Ph.D. dual degree. As a current member of a reproductive physiology laboratory at the University of Connecticut, she has found great value in working in a collaborative effort as she has identified the impact this had made on her scientific knowledge and skills. Roma is passionate about serving communities and leading by example, which has led her to participate in various community service oriented extracurricular activities. Roma joined the YSERE program to equip herself with the tools needed to succeed in a rigorous biomedical research field and to explore new areas within biomedical research.
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Peter Ly
2024 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Peter is a student at Housatonic Community College majoring in Engineering. As an international student from Vietnam, Peter is determined to fully indulge in academic and intellectual opportunities afforded to him. Personal experiences have instilled determination to expand his scientific knowledge and skillset through research with a particular interest in learning more about hematology. Peter joined the YSERE program to develop research skills that will lay the foundation for a future career as a research scientist.
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Hummi Mohammed
2024 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Hummi is a rising junior at Albertus Magnus College, majoring in Biology. Hummi is a Dean’s List Academic Achievement Award recipient and has aspirations of pursuing medical school to become an Oncologist. She has proven her ability to persevere through challenging obstacles and has shown up as a leader amongst her peers in various ways. As a second year YSERE scholar, Hummi hopes to build on the research skillset she has previously developed at the stem cell center and continue to strive toward a career in oncology.
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Mikella Nguyen
2024 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Mikella is a current senior at the University of North Texas, majoring in Biology and minoring in Chemistry, Chinese, and Spanish. She has also completed a Certificate in Professional Spanish with a focus in Medical Spanish. In addition to minoring in different languages, she has proficiency in Vietnamese. Through Mikella's passion for learning new languages and serving as a family clinic receptionist, her desire to pursue a career as a physician was cemented. Currently, she works as a phlebotomist at her University's Health and Wellness Center and is involved in neuroscience research. Mikella joined the YSERE program to build on her present research skills and knowledge in preparation for pursuing a degree in medicine.
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Melika Salimi
2024 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Melika is a rising junior at the University of New Haven, majoring in General Biology. Melika is a Rising Star Award recipient and is interested in pursuing a career as a physician-scientist. She has experience as a Lab Assistant at the University of New Haven and clinical shadowing experience at Yale New Haven Hospital. These opportunities along with personal experiences have sparked an interest in better understanding the human brain and mental health. As an international student leader, Melika has proven her leadership, communication, and cross-cultural competence skills. Melika joined the YSERE program to develop foundational research skills, deepen her understanding of biomedical concepts, and explore potential research interests in neuroscience and genetics.
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Sonam Sherpa
2024 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Sonam is a student at South Seattle College interested in Neurobiology. While her relevant coursework is currently comprised of general biology, anatomy and physiology, Sonam has become intrigued by the complexities of the brain and is therefore looking to bridge the gap in her knowledge as it relates to neuroscience. Sonam’s experiences as an international first-generation college student drive her desire to pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences with a focus on neuroscience. Sonam joined the YSERE program to use her foundational biology knowledge to explore brain function and dysfunction, including synaptic plasticity, neurodegeneration, and the role of neurotransmitters in regulating behavior.
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Shainoor Showrin
2024 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Shainoor is an undergraduate student majoring in Neuroscience at Wellesley College. She is a first-generation college student with a strong desire to pursue a Ph.D in Neuroscience. Shainoor has an interest in Neuroscience that stems from a passion for understanding the molecular and physiological mechanisms that underpin health and disease. Her relevant coursework is currently aimed at better understanding neurological disorders, mental health conditions, and overall brain function. She has also become fascinated by Biomedical Science and is eager to expand her knowledge by aiming to unravel the complexities of the human body at a molecular, cellular, and systemic level. Shainoor joined the YSERE program to focus on research that helps improve human health, benefiting society by advancing medical knowledge, treatments, and interventions for various health conditions.
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Ajarano Smith-Bowe
2024 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Ajarano is a recent graduate of Gateway Community College where he was the President of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. He has shown his determination to persevere in his academics given multiple unexpected and challenging obstacles in his path during the COVID-19 pandemic and is interested in pursuing a PhD in Neuroscience. Ajarano’s previous research experience consists of studying the impact of perceived emotions in romantic partners, during which he was able to work through the unpredictable obstacles in research. Ajarano would like to focus on neurology and genetic research as he is intrigued by the impacts of genetic code on the brain as well as the impact of brain structure on memory and consciousness. He will be attending Columbia University.
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Meet Our 2023 YSERE Interns

Yasmin Almazázn
2023 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Yasmin is a senior at the University of New Haven, majoring in Biology with a double minor in Chemistry and Pharmacology. Following graduation in the fall, Yasmin plans to pursue a Doctorate in Pre-Veterinary Medicine focused on embryology for the purpose of animal conservation and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) research and treatment. Yasmin has experience in marine biology maintenance, organic chemistry, and molecular biology procedures and experiments, research and data collection, and field research lab in ecology. Yasmin is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor society.
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Roxhensa Dilolli
2023 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Roxhensa Dilolli is an international student from Greece. She is currently a senior at Albertus Magnus College. She is an honors student majoring in Biology and is interested in a research career. Roxhensa was always passionate about a career in research and patient care. Therefore, YCCI was one of the most rewarding experiences for her. Before joining the YCCI program, Roxhensa volunteered in a hospital and understood the need for patient care advancement. For that reason, her experience as a clinical research intern helped her become more determined to pursue a career that will help her find solutions to treat diseases and help patients live a quality life. About my YCCI Internship: My experience at YCCI was an exciting one. It was my first internship, and I learned a lot of new techniques and made many new connections. My lab's diverse environment made it a perfect space for new ideas to develop and for knowledge to be shared by different areas of expertise. One of the most exciting things during my experience in the lab was that I had the chance to contribute to a crucial experiment that studied pulmonary hypertension, a rare disease that still has no cure. For Students Considering YCCI: The YCCI program is a unique experience. Many resources help interns advance their career goals. From being trained by experienced mentors to being able to attend many seminars that help reach career goals, YCCI has it all. Apart from that, at YCCI, someone can realize if research is the right fit for them. For these reasons I highly recommend that everyone interested in research or healthcare join the program.
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Pape Drame
2023 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Papé Drame, a devoted resident of New Haven and a current student at Gateway Community College, possesses an unwavering passion for the field of medicine. His career aspirations are rooted in a deep-seated desire to make a profound impact on healthcare and the well-being of individuals. Papé's involvement with YSERE has played a pivotal role in shaping his commitment to the pursuit of excellence in the medical arena. Taking a significant stride forward, he has chosen to extend his involvement in the realm of research, dedicating an entire year to intensive laboratory work within the Bhattacharyya Lab. As Papé continues his academic journey at Gateway Community College and immerses himself in the transformative world of research at the Bhattacharyya Lab, he is steadily inching closer to the realization of his dream—a successful and impactful career in the field of medicine. About my YCCI Internship: This was single-handedly the best research experience I've had yet. It was an amazing opportunity that helped me learn to take advantage of the opportunity given to me. I also gained the ability to properly construct and digest a research paper, learned how to form a hypothesis, and became skilled in the handling of basic lab equipment. For Students Considering YCCI: YSERE is an incredible opportunity for exposure to biomedical research. The experience was enriching and provided guidance for my career journey. Definitely apply regardless of how much research experience you have!
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Hummi Mohammed
2023 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Hummi is a current sophomore at Albertus Magnus College on the pre med track. About my YCCI Internship: Hummi was exposed to a whole new world of the biomedical field during her YCCI Internship which helped her better understand and appreciate medical science. She also developed important skills needed to be successful in the biomedical field. For Students Considering YCCI: A great opportunity to acquire knowledge, skills while meeting great faculty and building connections.
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Leila-Belle Nuryan
2023 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Leila is a rising senior at the University of California, Santa Cruz, majoring in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology. Leila aspired to study Business with the goal of an MBA. After a family member’s illness diagnosis, Leila gained a unique and intimate perspective on the field of medicine and committed to work towards becoming an empathetic, compassionate, and caring physician. In addition to coursework, Leila is a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and volunteers as a Blood Donor Ambassador and Disaster Shelter Associate. Leila has become involved with the Boeger lab at UCSC, and hopes the YSERE program will afford the opportunity to gain experience in the fundamentals of scientific discovery to craft an undergraduate research project and advance efforts towards obtaining an MD-Ph.D.
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Mamadou Soumahoro
2023 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Mamadou Soumahoro was originally exposed to science and medicine back in Cote d'Ivoire West Africa. He was involved in clinical work in his hometown, where he has seen human suffering and misery as a direct result of lack of healthcare providers. That led him to pursue a career in Healthcare. Starting his schooling in Cote D'Ivoire, his hunger for knowledge drove him to the United States in search of knowledge. Mamadou is currently a student at Gateway Community College and will be transferring to the university to pursue a bachelor's degree in biology. Mamadou has worked as a patient transport and a Pharmacy tech at Yale New Haven Health. His interactions with patients, knowledge of medications, and background have increased his passion to pursue a career in science and medicine. Mamadou understands that medicine is an ongoing learning career in which research plays a tremendous role. He is aiming to pursue a MD-PhD degree. Mamadou has a strong passion for sports, especially soccer, and enjoys gym and family time. About my YCCI Internship: Participating in this program has been the best decision I have ever made. Not having any prior research experience, I felt welcomed and supported by not only the staff members but also the PI and mentor. Working with Dr. Rivero and Dr. Stitleman was an amazing learning experience. I was given all the materials and tools needed to learn. They truly inspired me to pursue a career in research. I was able to network and developed a connection with my PI who opened doors to me and was willing to mentor me beyond the program and guide me throughout my journey to med school. I feel really blessed to be part of this program. I will forever be grateful to everyone that works hard to create and keep this program alive. Merci beaucoup a Tous. For Students Considering YCCI: I truly encourage any student regardless of the background to apply to this program, specifically, if you have an interest in research or medicine. The people are very receptive, welcoming and eager to help. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You truly get to connect with researchers, doctors, and surgeons that can mentor and support you throughout your journey in life.
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Rebecca Sousa
2023 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Rebecca is a student at Housatonic Community College majoring in Biology. A child of immigrant parents from Brazil, Rebecca developed a passion for Biology and STEM by circumstance. As a first-generation college student, Rebecca aspires to pursue a career in genetics. Rebecca is fluent in Portuguese. As a YSERE Intern, Rebecca is honored to explore unknown spaces, participate in research projects, and learn from the faculty about their scientific achievements and discoveries.
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Kirati Tayutivutikul
2023 Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience Intern
Kirati is a fourth year undergraduate student at the University of North Dakota. She was raised in Chiang Mai, Thailand and attended high school and college in the United States. She is studying Chemistry/Biochemistry with an interest in pursuing a career in medicine. Her experience has included lab research working with neural stem cells and vascular cells to explore the cross-molecular influence that these distinct populations have on one another. Yale Summer Enrichment Research Experience (YSERE) has opened up her interest in another field of research involving the study of HIV. She is also interested in the issue of healthcare disparity and has volunteered in a community clinic in Thailand and traveled with a team to bring medical services to a remote village. In North Dakota, she spearheaded a project to collect medical supplies for a non-profit organization which recycles them and distributes them to low income individuals. About my YCCI Internship: Participating in an internship provided by YCCI was a formative experience. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Dr. Sutton’s lab and appreciated the close mentorship he provided. I learned techniques in the lab, which I will be able to apply to future projects. It was inspiring to learn from faculty and students at Yale through various workshops and I found great value in the opportunity to ask questions regarding their success. For Students Considering YCCI: YSERE is an incredible opportunity for exposure to biomedical research. The experience was enriching and provided guidance for my career journey. Definitely apply regardless of how much research experience you have!
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Meet Our 2022 Interns

Ghadah F Ali
2022 YSERE Intern
Ghadah Ali is currently enrolled in a Biology Master's Program at Southtern Connecticut State University where she is studying the neural fibers of the upper respiratory tract in Manatees. Ghadah aims to apply to medical school and continue research in the near future. About my YCCI Internship The YCCI internship was a great opportunity that opened the door to genetic and developmental research.
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Oriel J Birt
2022 YSERE Intern
Oriel Birt attends Springfield College where she is studying Biology. Oriel began her college journey in the Liberal Arts and Science program at Gateway Community College. Her participation in the YSERE program helped her discover a passion for biomedical science and Oriel now aspires to be a biomedical researcher.
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Darlene A Burckson
2022 YSERE Intern
Darlene Burckson received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biological Sciences and minored in Human Development and Family Sciences, from the University of Connecticut in May. While at UConn, she was Resident Assistant for the Women in Math Science and Engineering Learning Community(WiMSE), in addition to being a member of the BOLD Women’s Leadership Network, a Volunteer Coordinator for UConn Health Leaders, a member of the Leadership Legacy Experience and an undergraduate research assistant in various labs. Darlene is passionate about research and after graduation she sought out opportunities that would allow her to gain a better understanding of how to approach research in a dynamic way. About my YCCI Internship I genuinely had the most amazing experience as a YSERE intern. This internship allowed me to explore my passion for clinical-based research. Everyone in the program was so welcoming and always willing to answer any questions I had. I met so many amazing people in 6 weeks and felt incredibly supported throughout the program. I gained so much experience and confidence within a short period of time. This internship has truly helped me gain a deeper understanding of the importance of research and how pivotal it is to have mentors for support, guidance, and clarity. As someone who has never worked in a wet lab before, I quickly became comfortable with the support of my PI, Dr. Maor Sauler, and everyone in the lab. I am so excited and grateful to be continuing my journey in Dr. Sauler’s lab during my gap year! My project will focus on understanding the molecular regulation of alveolar homeostasis. For Students Considering YCCI I encourage any student who thinks they might be interested in biomedical research to apply! YSERE provides you with mentorship and hands-on involvement in the lab, which results in you having a well-rounded experience. YSERE is an immersive program that will push you out of your comfort zone in a great way and lead to you building a strong foundation as a researcher! I took so much away from this program and would highly recommend it.
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Sadè D Ebanks
2022 YSERE Intern
Sade' is excited to join the University of New Haven Graduate Class of 2022. Sade' comes from an international undergraduate background at the University of the West Indies-Jamaica, where she received a B.S. in Biochemistry and where she served as a Teaching Assistant for Physical Chemistry. Sade' did research and lab work with the Biomedical Devices Innovative Lab group at the University of New Haven (For Natural polymers and their use as Medical Devices) and has been involved in mentorship activities with the Society of Women in Engineering. Sade' hopes to move forward in Scientific Research after interning with the YSERE program and plans to apply for Ph.D studies in 2023.About my YCCI Internship It was good to work and learn about current research practices being utilized while meeting many experienced professional researchers within the scientific community.
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Karen L Harrison
2022 YSERE Intern
Karen Harrison is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She is studying Physiological Science with an interest in pursuing a career in medicine or biomedical research. As a Latina, first-generation college student, Karen aims to empower individuals from marginalized communities in higher education through mentorship. By getting immersed in proteomic research through the 2022 Yale’s Summer Enrichment Research Experience (YSERE), Karen hopes to return to Yale next summer to continue the project she worked on. Throughout her college career, Karen's goal is to blend her experiences in clinical and research settings to broaden her knowledge of human biology.About my YCCI Internship My internship was monumental in my introductory immersion to cutting-edge research. I thoroughly enjoyed not only my host lab, but also the supplemental workshops and events that were provided by YCCI. Throughout my internship, I learned valuable concepts such as the significance of networking, applying to graduate school, and the process of conducting research. I highly recommend anyone considering applying—to apply!! For Students Considering YCCI If you’re interested in Pre-Health careers, this internship is a great opportunity to develop your background in biomedical science. The trainings and guidance you receive are very rich and I personally found them greatly rewarding. Specifically for YSERE, I thought I wasn’t going to get in considering my little research background, but if you demonstrate a strong interest in increasing diversity, it will shine through in your application!
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Carlos J. Hurtado Muñoz
2022 YSERE Intern
Carlos Hurtado Muñoz is a Senior Biomedical Engineering Pre Medical student at the University of Connecticut. He was raised in Buenaventura, Colombia and discovered his passion for science early on while being exposed to the healthcare field. He is interested in social justice in medicine and the intersections between race and healthcare. At UConn he has volunteered with the undergraduate chapter of the Latino Medical Student Association to help Hispanic/LatinX students that share his background navigate the process of applying to medical school. As a Biomedical engineering student, Carlos has worked with medical devices and the processing of bio-signals. He has been a part of several research programs, including the Health Research Program at UConn and the Biomedical Engineering in Simulations, Imaging, and Modeling (BME-SIM) REU Site at East Carolina University, which helped him discover his interest in areas such as cardiovascular research, cancer research, tissue engineering and wound healing projects.Carlos’s expected graduation date is May 2023, and he hopes to become a physician scientist practicing engineering and medicine.About my YCCI Internship At the Horsley lab I had the best experience in a research lab that I have ever had. I believe the support of my mentor was crucial; I felt like I was able to fulfill all the tasks that were assigned to me which helped once again ignite my passion for this field. The experience of being at Yale, along some of the most brilliant scientists in the world was priceless. I gained the confidence to do research anywhere else and met great professionals along the way. For Students Considering YCCI This program was by far the best experience in research that I had. Please consider applying as you would gain crucial insight into research and academia to evaluate if this path is right for you. The support of everyone in the program allowed me to confirm that this is what I truly enjoy doing and that this is the career path for me.
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Bianca L Laguerre
2022 YSERE Intern
Bianca Laguerre is in her second year at Three Rivers Community College where she is enrolled in the General Studies degree program. After she receives her Associates Degree in the Spring of 2023, she plans on transferring to a four-year college where she will major in Biology. She aspires to be a part of an MD program in the near future. Bianca believes that YSERE has helped tremendously and is applying the skills she has learned from the program in her current microbiology class. Bianca’s excitement towards the steps of finding cures, her compassionate nature towards those who are ill, and her eagerness to learn, are what made this program the highlight of her summer.About my YCCI Internship Participating in this program has been a great opportunity. The lunch and learns as well as the symposium were a particularly helpful and informative way to be able to gain insight on how current students at Yale are working towards their goals of becoming an MD and/or PhD. Being able to have conversations with other students at Yale and the individuals in the lab I was assigned to, allowed me to broaden my horizons about different possibilities. For Students Considering YCCI The YSERE program has allowed me to gain experience in the medical field which I had no experience in before. I was excited to gain research skills and collaborate with the other individuals here at Yale. It is important to be open-minded and participate by asking questions as everyone is knowledgeable and more than willing to share their perspective.
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Klea Nito
2022 YSERE Intern
Klea Nito is currently a Junior majoring in Biological Sciences at the University of Connecticut, where she is pursuing a pre-MD/PhD pathway. Klea is also interning as a volunteer for Circle of Care, a non-profit organization that financially assists families of children suffering from cancer throughout Connecticut. Most recently, she has also been engaged with the student movement against educational discrepancies and inequalities in Albania. About my YCCI Internship My YCCI internship has been, without doubt, the most formative educational experience I have been given throughout my education in USA. The program provided me not only with profound knowledge and understanding of laboratory practices, but also with a network of mentors and instructors eager to teach and help me learn. My PI provided me with a detailed and well-structured project plan, while also ensuring extensive support throughout my experiments. This experience not only broadened my horizon and ultimately restructured my career plans, it also provided me with new skills transferable to my future roles and positions, and it refined my work ethic. For Students Considering YCCI YCCI internships will not only help you to get involved in one of the most important and exciting parts of science, research, but it will also help you see, understand and put in practice what you have been studying as theory for years. Throughout this experience, I was able to precisely describe and understand what the most appropriate and fulfilling career path would be for me. It will be the most fulfilling and rewarding experience during your higher education journey!
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Ryan A Wight
2022 YSERE Intern
Ryan Allen Wight is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Biology at University of Massachusetts Amherst with aspirations of earning a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. A recent addition to the great team at Katz Lab, Ryan is so excited to assist in mapping a nudibranch connectome! Outside of science and Army training, Ryan spends time reading, wondering, and observing.
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