Last week, we celebrated the conclusion of another successful BMRC Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) with our annual Poster Presentation Day (post on that coming soon!)
Over the past nine weeks, these students gained hands-on research experience through lab work, mentorship, and educational seminars led by BMRC Core Lab Scientists. They showcased the results of their summer projects to mentors, lab members, family, and special guests, including members of the Bethel family.
We are incredibly proud of this year’s cohort and grateful to the mentors who helped guide their journey. We wish these students continued success and are excited that several will continue their research at the BMRC in the months ahead.
Name: Diya Bhagat
Current year in school: Rising Junior
Major: Bioengineering
What is one skill you’ve learned this summer in the SSRP that was most valuable to you?
I learned how to troubleshoot when things don’t always go according to plan. We faced many challenges this summer with certain protocols and techniques, which taught me how to adapt when I wasn’t getting the results I expected. Identifying potential issues and trying new approaches has been a valuable skill.
How has your experience in the SSRP influenced your future academic or career plans?
This experience made me realize that research is something I want to pursue in the future. Working closely with the people in my lab showed me that this type of work can make a meaningful impact and help people who suffer from osteoarthritis. Knowing that I can play a role in improving patients’ lives means a great deal to me, and it has motivated me to continue pursuing this path in the future.
What did you enjoy most about your time here at the BMRC/Pitt?
I enjoyed the fast-paced work environment. Everyone was working toward one common goal, conducting research to help others, and it was clear that everyone was highly motivated to achieve that goal. Being in such an environment allowed me to succeed because everyone was putting their best foot forward. The collaborative atmosphere led to productive research and quantifiable results.
Name: Derek Favorite
Current year in school: Rising Senior
Major: Biology Pre-Med
What is one skill you’ve learned this summer in the SSRP that was most valuable to you?
The most valuable skill I’ve learned this summer in the SSRP is how to take a research project from the question or hypothesis stage to full completion, including experimental results. After becoming familiar with the ongoing research in Dr. Vo’s lab I had to find a central question to answer and determine the steps to solve it. Although it sounds simple, this process is the foundation for conducting research independently. Now, I feel confident in my ability to conduct research wherever I land in the future.
How has your experience in the SSRP influenced your future academic or career plans?
Before starting work in the SSRP I already had a strong interest in becoming an orthopedic surgeon. Now, after getting involved in the research side of orthopedics, I have a greater appreciation for the work that goes into clinical therapies before they ever reach a physician’s desk.
What did you enjoy most about your time here at the BMRC/Pitt?
The parts I enjoyed most about my time here at Pitt and in the BMRC are the people I met in and around the BMRC. Being far away from home everyone did their best to make me feel welcome.
Name: Caelan McCormack
Current Year In School: Rising Senior
Major: Biomedical Sciences
What is one skill you’ve learned this summer in the SSRP that was most valuable to you?
The most valuable skill I developed this summer was scientific communication. Participating in journal article discussions and delivering elevator pitches challenged me to distill complex data into clear, compelling narratives, building my confidence in presenting research.
How has your experience in the SSRP influenced your future academic or career plans?
I deeply valued the opportunity to explore a single research area in depth this summer. In the future, I plan to continue seeking out projects that allow me to engage with complex topics and expand my scientific knowledge.
What did you enjoy most about your time here at the BMRC/Pitt?
The highlight of my time at BMRC/Pitt was learning under the guidance of Dr. Lohse and Dr. Weiss. They constantly challenged me to think critically, ask deeper questions, and step out of my comfort zone every day, for which I am immensely grateful.
Name: Joey Perry
Current Year In School: Senior
Major: Cell & Molecular Biology
What is one skill you’ve learned this summer in the SSRP that was most valuable to you?
One skill that I learned this summer is how to properly keep a good scientific journal such that my experiments were repeatable and accurate.
How has your experience in the SSRP influenced your future academic or career plans?
My experience in the SSRP has made me more aware of the bridge between benchtop and bedside care. It has shown me that the clinical applications of lab work are so important to patient care. This has made me more inclined to keep working in labs even after medical school.
What did you enjoy most about your time here at the BMRC/Pitt?
My favorite part of my time here was learning about all of the different research projects and then doing my own research to see how those projects are being implemented in clinical work today. I also loved all of the people that I got to meet and learn from.
Name: Matthew Shi
Current year in school: Rising senior
Major: Rehabilitation Science
What is one skill you’ve learned this summer in the SSRP that was most valuable to you?
The most valuable skill I’ve developed this summer is learning how to lead a research project independently. I learned how to think critically about experimental direction, plan next steps, and consider cost when making decisions about reagents and study design. This was my first experience having real ownership over a project and learning to think like a scientist rather than just execute tasks has been transformative.
How has your experience in the SSRP influenced your future academic or career plans?
This experience has deepened my commitment to pursuing academic medicine, specifically academic orthopedic surgery. Working at the intersection of bench research and clinical application has shown me how fundamental science is in asking deeper clinical questions
What did you enjoy most about your time here at the BMRC/Pitt?
What I enjoyed most was learning how to communicate science effectively and taking genuine ownership of my project. Being trusted to lead, make decisions, and present findings to the lab pushed me to grow as a scientific learner and thinker.