Students reflect on STEMM research immersion experience: “I want to be a role model”

For students across the United States, summer break from school is an opportunity to pursue activities and experiences that ignite their imagination and fuel new interests. While a break from regular school calls for fun and relaxation, many students also use this time to continue growing and learning around topics that truly spark their attention. For students in the Memphis area, summer is their chance to participate in the St. Jude STEMM Education and Outreach Program’s High School Research Immersion (HSRI) program.

Through the HSRI program, students receive a structured educational and immersive research experience focused on biomedical science. The program not only provides hands-on research opportunities but also fosters a supportive environment where young scholars can thrive and develop a sense of belonging. This environment instills confidence in their research abilities, nurturing academic growth and personal development to motivate students to pursue their scientific aspirations.

Discovering how research impacts clinical care

The students were placed in pairs in labs across the St. Jude research enterprise, where a faculty or staff member oversaw their work on their research project. They spent eight weeks in their assigned lab learning, conducting and analyzing their project. The focus of the labs centered on basic and translational science and clinical research, with topics spanning from molecular biology, drug development and clinical outcomes to health care gaps.

At the end of the program, St. Jude hosted a community exhibition where students showcased their research findings at a scientific poster session. This culminating event allowed HSRI students, along with participants from summer programs at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center and Rhodes College, to proudly present their work to the community.

Jensen Sloan Carruth and her partner Stephanie Cruz worked with mentor Jamie Russell, RN, a lead clinical research associate in the St. Jude Department of Infectious Diseases. Reflecting on her experience in the program, Carruth commented, “I’ve had a really good time doing my research this summer. My partner and I had the opportunity to shadow in the clinical spaces, engage directly with patients and witness how new treatments are impacting them.”

Research experience hits close to home

Since St. Jude is a part of the Memphis community, some students are already familiar with the organization when they join the program. In fact, that connection is why they join the program.

Mahin Hasani is one such student. “I started gaining an interest in STEMM research because I already knew St Jude. I realized that it’s not just a hospital; it’s a destination for children from all around the world seeking care,” she said. “It had a big impact on me. At first, I wanted to work in criminal justice and join the FBI, but that changed.”

When she learned about the HSRI program through past participants at her school, Hasani was eager to apply. “This experience has been major for me because I gained experience in research, which can be a steppingstone to help me pursue my career.

“This opportunity has also allowed me to be a part of and give back to a cause that’s important to me,” Hasani added.

Charting paths to STEMM careers

One of the benefits of the HSRI program is that hands-on lab experiences help the students see themselves as scientists, potentially motivating them to pursue a career in STEMM.

Early experiences in research and clinical spaces provided students with valuable insights that helped inform decision-making around future careers. “For my career, I hope to go the medical route and attend medical school. My summer research working in a clinical lab provided me with valuable experiences in patient care by emphasizing the importance of a patient-first approach. I think it was good to get this experience early because it’s just a big part of being a doctor,” said Carruth. 

Vivian Eatmon, a student who worked in the lab of Jerlym Porter, PhD, St. Jude Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences, said, “I’m torn between pursuing neuroscience and aviation. I told myself that if I enjoyed this program and the research experience, I would lean towards a career in neuroscience.”

An inspiration to others 

The students who participate in the HSRI program reflect the local population of Memphis, where St. Jude is located. The program offers students valuable research experiences and promotes the development of positive mentor-mentee relationships, supported by specialized mentor training that all mentors complete before working with students each summer. These relationships play an important role in increasing participation in the scientific workforce by exposing students to working scientists and preparing them for the work of scientific careers. 

Daniel Blair, PhD, St. Jude Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, is a second-year mentor in the HSRI program and is dedicated to inspiring his students and ensuring they gain a comprehensive understanding of research. “People have the power to do great things when they’re put in the right environment. And that’s what I feel we can do here with the students. We place them in an environment where we have the resources to tackle important research questions.”

“At the end of the program, they have a project where they did impactful science that contributes to pushing forward the boundaries of what we know,” Blair continued.

Lauren Demery, along with her partner Jocelyn Lopez, worked in Blair’s lab for the summer. Demery explained how Blair had inspired her to pursue a career in research: “Before this experience, I wanted to be a medical doctor and be on the clinical side of things. However, I have learned that there are many other opportunities in STEMM beyond the clinic. Working in Dr. Blair’s lab has opened my eyes to how you can contribute to public health through research, and I am super grateful that he was our mentor.”

Demery hopes to use her experience to further her career so that she may also serve as an inspiration to others. “I want to be a role model for Black and other young people of color, showing them that they too can achieve success and make a difference in the world,” Demery enthused. “I hope to inspire others and prove that people who look like us can reach our goals and create positive change.”

Looking forward to the future 

Through the HSRI program, St. Jude aims to provide authentic research experiences for students interested in biomedical science so that they may eventually pursue careers in STEMM fields. The program is nurturing the future of the biomedical workforce and, maybe someday, even future St. Jude employees. 

Looking ahead, Demery commented, “I want to go away for college, but I’ve been thinking that maybe I could come back to Memphis and work at St. Jude and contribute to the great mission.”