Scholars from UW Robinson Center for Young Scholars listen to a presentation on DNA from BBI Research Lab Manager Nahum Smith (left) and Research Scientist Sabrina Best: 'Getting to see BBI researchers at work showed them collaborative, curious, and full of open questions.'
Two recent events underscore the Brotman Baty Institute’s commitment to educating the next generation of scientists.
More than 40 sixth and seventh grade students visited BBI’s labs on July 20th to observe staff scientists and post-docs demonstrate DNA extraction from cells and specimens under computer-enhanced microscopes, as well as having an introduction to bioinformatics. The students were part of the Enrichment Summer program of the UW Robinson Center for Young Scholars.
The Robinson Center’s Summer Program is an immersive, multi-week academic experience that brings highly-capable students to the UW campus. Students enroll in a single course and spend their days engaged in lessons, hands-on activities, labs, and field trips.
"At this age, kids are figuring out who gets to 'do science' – and getting to see BBI researchers at work showed them collaborative, curious, and full of open questions, not just answers in a textbook,” said Cristina Valensisi, Ph.D., the Center’s Director of Enrichment. “That kind of firsthand exposure is exactly what turns a passing interest into a lasting one. Big thanks to (BBI Research Laboratory Manager) Nahum Smith for setting up the visit and letting our Summer Program students hang out in his world for a day."
The following day, BBI hosted its annual for interns from UW Medicine, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, and Seattle Children’s.
Engaging the next generation: Four scientists offer insights to interns from UW Medicine, Fred Hutch, and Seattle Children's. Left to right are: Lea Starita, Ph.D, Associate professor in the UW Department of Genome Sciences and co-director of the Brotman Baty Advanced Technology Lab; Alpana Waghmare, M.D., Associate Professor, UW Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases; Devin Schweppe, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, UW Genome Sciences; and Mariya Sweetwyne, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology.
A group of about 20 interns learned about the career paths and educational journeys for an hour from a panel of four scientists: Alpana Waghmare, M.D., Associate Professor, UW Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases; Mariya Sweetwyne, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology; Devin Schweppe, Ph.D., assistant professor, UW Genome Sciences; and Lea Starita, Ph.D, Associate professor in the UW Department of Genome Sciences and co-director of the Brotman Baty Advanced Technology Lab.
“It's important for the students to see a variety of career paths,” said Waghmare. “Even from this short exposure, there are a lot of opportunities. That’s why I like the panel so much – there are a lot of different and non-traditional paths we on the panel have taken to get where each of us has arrived.”
No such opportunity to engage with PIs was available, Waghmare said, when she was an undergraduate.
“Just to have a formal program to network is wonderful,” she said. “For me at that stage of my career, it was ‘Figure it out on your own.’”
