Advancing Research in BBMB
My Summer Internship at UW’s Kelly Lab
By Lucas Huang ’25
Hello there. My name is Lucas Huang and I am a senior majoring in BBMB. This summer I had the opportunity to intern at the UW School of Pharmacy in the Kelly Lab. My project in the Kelly Lab was to investigate the effect that low doses of 13-cis retinoic acid had on Stra8 expression in rat testis cells in vitro.
A typical day for me varies depending on the specific experiment goals that I have planned for that week. Generally, I start early in the morning. The first thing that I do is check my cells under the microscope to ensure they are growing well and have expected morphology based on how long they have been incubating. Once I have verified their status, begin prepping for the day’s experiment.
This summer I have performed two types of experiments on a biweekly basis. RNA isolation and immunocytochemistry. In each type of experiment, rat cells were treated with differing concentrations of 13-cis retinoic acid (between 0.5 and 0.05 nM). During the RNA isolation weeks, RNA was collected from different testis cells at 6, 24, and 48 hours. They were later sequenced for the presence of Stra8. During immunocytochemistry weeks, cells were fixed in their current state after 5 days and applied with immunofluorescent Stra8 and other antibodies. The cells were later imaged for the presence of these antibodies.
During the day I often have down time in between my experiments. I usually spend this time chatting with my mentor about the project. This includes reading relevant articles, discussing future experiments, and working on analyzing data. Additionally, our lab usually eats lunch as a group at the UW medical center cafeteria. It’s a great time to relax and get to know the other interns and mentors working with me.
This internship has been a significant extension of my academic journey at Whitman so far. It has given me a chance to apply the theoretical knowledge from my BBMB courses and continue practicing wet lab techniques. Being able to see the real-world impact of my studies and contribute to ongoing research has been incredibly rewarding. This internship has reinforced my passion for scientific research and has given me a clearer sense of direction for my future career. The mentorship and networking opportunities provided through this experience have equipped me with valuable skills and insights that will help me further my career.
Hello there. My name is Lucas Huang and I am a senior majoring in BBMB. This summer I had the opportunity to intern at the UW School of Pharmacy in the Kelly Lab. My project in the Kelly Lab was to investigate the effect that low doses of 13-cis retinoic acid had on Stra8 expression in rat testis cells in vitro.
A typical day for me varies depending on the specific experiment goals that I have planned for that week. Generally, I start early in the morning. The first thing that I do is check my cells under the microscope to ensure they are growing well and have expected morphology based on how long they have been incubating. Once I have verified their status, begin prepping for the day’s experiment.
This summer I have performed two types of experiments on a biweekly basis. RNA isolation and immunocytochemistry. In each type of experiment, rat cells were treated with differing concentrations of 13-cis retinoic acid (between 0.5 and 0.05 nM). During the RNA isolation weeks, RNA was collected from different testis cells at 6, 24 and 48 hours. They were later sequenced for the presence of Stra8. During immunocytochemistry weeks, cells were fixed in their current state after 5 days and applied with immunofluorescent Stra8 and other antibodies. The cells were later imaged for the presence of these antibodies.
During the day I often have down time in between my experiments. I usually spend this time chatting with my mentor about the project. This includes reading relevant articles, discussing future experiments, and working on analyzing data. Additionally, our lab usually eats lunch as a group at the UW medical center cafeteria. It’s a great time to relax and get to know the other interns and mentors working with me.
This internship has been a significant extension of my academic journey at Whitman so far. It has given me a chance to apply the theoretical knowledge from my BBMB courses and continue practicing wet lab techniques. Being able to see the real-world impact of my studies and contribute to ongoing research has been incredibly rewarding. This internship has reinforced my passion for scientific research and has given me a clearer sense of direction for my future career. The mentorship and networking opportunities provided through this experience have equipped me with valuable skills and insights that will help me further my career.
About the Whitman Internship Grant Program
These experiences are made possible by the Whitman Internship Grant (WIG), a competitive grant that funds students in unpaid internships at nonprofit organizations, some for-profit organizations, and governmental and public offices. We’re excited to share blog posts from students who have received summer, fall, or spring grants, and who are working at various organizations, businesses, and research labs worldwide.
To learn more about securing a Whitman Internship Grant or hosting a Whitman intern at your organization, contact us at ccec_info@whitman.edu.