NIH Summer Internship Report

I am currently a junior at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. I am majoring in both Chemistry: Health Sciences and Biology: Cell and Molecular track with a minor in marine science. Due to the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s small size, they are able to offer great, hands on labs that allow us to learn several crucial skills that will be necessary later on in both our academic and career goals. While these labs have taught me a lot, I want to further expand these skills. The NIH summer internship program will give me the opportunity I need in order to get more knowledge in the science field. I aspire to continue through school until I earn my Masters, and then eventually my Ph.D. With the knowledge I develop in my academic pursuit, I hope to be able to conduct my own research on different infectious diseases in order to develop vaccines against them. In order to achieve this goal, I need to develop both research and technical skills. This internship will provide me with the hands on experience I need to develop both of these skills, allowing for me to strive towards my future goal.

I converted from a marine science major to both chemistry and biology due to the lull these two fields hold over me. My classes have only deepened my passion for these fields, and I hope to one-day study biomedical research. My classes in cell and molecular biology and organic chemistry drew a great interest for me. I enjoy studying how different chemicals work and how the react with the human body. Since I was young, I have always been interested in the medical field and have wanted to help people. Due to my natural curiosity and my analytical skills, I found that biomedical research would best fit my interests and my