Karo Doro

Karo Doro is an undergraduate from Alberta, Canada, double majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology, with a minor in Women and Gender Studies. As a research assistant, she conducts research across various specialties for Harvard University, the University of Toronto, and her home institution (the University of Lethbridge), with a specialized focus on Neuroimaging & Immunohistochemistry, and Alzheimer’s preclinical testing on transgenic mice, earning her twenty thousand dollars in research grants this summer. As an advocate for the underrepresentation of Black women in STEM related fields, she has had the opportunity to present at the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals where her solutions on Gender Equality placed 2nd overall and has competed in the iGEM synthetic biology Grand Jamboree in Paris. As an activist, her research and advocacy maintain synonymity through her work as Working Group Chair for the Federation of Black Canadians, her non-profit which provides an educational tool aimed to eliminate the ostracization of women in relation to menstrual stigmatization, and influences in the research labs of Dr. Louise Barrett and Dr. Robbin Gibb that continue to have a significant impact in her pursuits for a medical career while addressing health, gender, and racial inequity.

About my YCCI Internship

This internship was an immersive experience beyond words. There were so many aspects from the speakers to former interns which played a pivotal role in grasping the goal of the internship to its full extent. Through over forty speakers and experts within their fields, each day was seamless and built upon each other in a way that exposed the extensive career paths within clinical research from informatics to clinical trials, and much more. There was something for everybody. Most pertinently, a large aspect within this internship spoke in part to the tremendous work the Cultural Ambassadors do within the YCCI, not only highlighting the importance of community involvement within research, but the significance in closing the gap in health disparities of minorities. It was such a privilege to share a space with individuals at the forefront of many globally impacted medical research, and even more so ones who saw healthcare beyond a one-dimensional scope. This has most definitely changed the trajectory of my career, and I am beyond ecstatic for what will come next through this experience.

For Students Considering a YCCI Internship

Regardless of where you are academically, professionally, or geographically, do not discount yourself from opportunities such as these. Take that plunge and continue working for the career you want and the impact you want to make, you will be glad you did. I know I was. Remain deliberate in your passions and others will see it too. Good luck!