Shadowing a researcher in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
For two weeks this spring, Genevieve Brackett, a senior at Revere High School in Richfield, Ohio, shadowed Erin Reed, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences. Dr. Reed and Ms. Brackett took a few moments to share the meaning of this experience.
What do these experiences mean to you as a PI?
Dr. Reed: I enjoy bringing in high school students as it is about the time I seriously started thinking about what I wanted to be when I grew up. I had the opportunity at that point to shadow several different researchers in various types of settings, and it really solidified for me what direction I wanted to go professionally. I’d always been interested in a medical-related field but wasn’t sure I wanted to practice medicine. Seeing research as an option really opened my eyes to new avenues and ended up being where I went, but there are so many careers available, and research can be one door to those opportunities.
How did the experience come about for Genevieve?
Dr. Reed: Her high school, Revere, has a two-week capstone for students to shadow various professions. Genevieve asked her friend Norah Brownlee, whose father, Dr. Seth Brownlee, works at NEOMED, if there was anybody whom she could intern/shadow for in research or any topics related to her major, microbiology. He connected her with me.
What did you learn? What stood out most to you?
Genevieve: I learned a lot about lab work, particularly managing a lab. It included some science but also a lot of networking and managing the required upkeep, like grants and lab issues. What stood out to me the most was how Dr. Reed made sure her lab was up to date and was always thinking about new avenues of study relating to their work. I thought it was good that she makes sure that the scientific world she lives in doesn't become shut off from the rest of the growing and changing scientific community.
What would you like to do from here? Future plans?
Genevieve: I'm going to be studying microbiology at The Ohio State University in the fall, and I plan on being very involved in research as early as possible. I then plan on some type of graduate school, but I am not holding myself down to any one avenue, in the hopes that I can figure out what specifically I am interested in and spend a lot of my life doing interesting things.
Anything else either of you would like to say or include?
Genevieve: My experience was great, and although it was only a short shadowing experience, I feel I learned a lot and I am so excited about my future because of my experience!