The Weitz Group is excited to welcome three REU students to Georgia Tech this summer. To learn about our new group members, we asked them to answer questions about their experiences and hopes for the future.
Welcome, Sophia, Isimeme, and Caitlin.
Sophia Ellis is a junior and a Biology Major at Spelman College. She’ll work with Marian Dominguez-Mirazo this summer.
What are your current career plans/goals?
I would like to become a doctor, more specifically, a trauma surgeon.
Have you done research in the past? If so, what did you study?
Yes, I have done statistical analysis research as a part of the LSAMP research program, where I studied the importance of cells and tissues in stopping cancer. I have also studied antibiotic resistance in plants with my mentor at Spelman College.
Why did you choose to join the Weitz group this summer?
I chose to join the Weitz group this summer to learn more about collecting data through coding, and to get more of an in-person research experience since this past year, all of my research has been virtual.
What do you hope to gain from this experience?
I hope to learn more about microbiology since most of the biology that I have studied in school has been more cellular and molecular-based.
Do you have any other interests, hobbies, or etc, that you’d like to share?
I like to read, bake, take walks, and spin.
Isimeme Udu recently graduated with a B.S. in Biology from Spelman College. She’ll work with Daniel Muratore this summer.
What are your current career plans/goals?
I will be doing a masters in Medical Informatics at Dartmouth College
Have you done research in the past? If so, what did you study?
Yes – I have studied the trichosphaerium amoeba, leopard geckos, and evolution in parental care
Why did you choose to join the Weitz group this summer?
I wanted to improve my mathematical and computer skills (as well as verify the knowledge I know).
What do you hope to gain from this experience?
I believe this will be a rewarding experience where I can converse with people about my goals, science, and just have fun! I want to be in a space where I can learn as much as possible.
Do you have any other interests, hobbies, or etc, that you’d like to share?
I sew (sometimes), read, and do music on the side. I also like to travel!
@IsimemeUdu on Twitter
Caitlin Cheung is a 3rd year undergraduate in the Biomedical Engineering department at Georgia Institute of Technology. She’ll work with Andreea Magalie this summer.
What are your current career plans/goals?
I hope to go to graduate school and then do work that involves a combination of biology and computer science, although I’m not sure what yet. I think anything involving diseases and treatments would be really cool.
Why did you choose to join the Weitz group this summer?
I think the work done by the lab is really interesting. Before joining, I was interested in the impact of COVID, and I love that I get to be more involved in that now.
What do you hope to gain from this experience?
I hope to gain experience from working on real-world problems that will make a difference in the world.
Do you have any other interests, hobbies, or etc, that you’d like to share?
I am really into fitness and working out. I enjoy going to the gym and find that living a healthy lifestyle makes me a happier person.