The FIU Summer Research Internship (SRI) aims to expose high school students to scientific research interests early in their educational careers. I was among 30 eligible students selected to participate in this 8-week program. High school student participants were treated as undergraduates, with high expectations for responsibility, time management, and maturity. This internship was conducted remotely due to quarantining and social distancing policies enforced during summer 2020. 

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Throughout the program I interacted with professionals from all scientific fields, learning topics ranging from genetics to neuroscience. I was assigned scientific case studies that were discussed in group layouts, allowing me to view and critique different perspectives and analyze the subject from varying angles. I participated in faculty seminars, case study analysis and discussions, journal clubs, professional development workshops, and a team-based research project. Each team gave an oral presentation of their research at the annual FIU SRI symposium. Overall, students engaged in at least 10 hours of research and research-related activities each week. 

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A unique aspect of the program that instantly grasped my attention was the team-oriented research project. My research topic was the genetics behind SARS-CoV-2, specifically studying the role of estrogen in the immune response and how it may be responsible for the sexual discrepancy seen in mortality rates. We established a formal research proposal and designed a PowerPoint presentation which my team presented in the final week of the internship. As a result of our work ethic and collaboration, we earned the First Place Presentation Award at the Annual FIU SRI Symposium. Access the full presentation slides here. My team was invited to present our project at the annual Life Sciences of South Florida Symposium, which is traditionally offered to undergraduate student researchers. Access a shortened video of the presentation during the Life Sciences Undergraduate Symposium here. 

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I learned not only technical skills such as how to break down a scientific journal article, how to research articles on medical databases and compose a formal research proposal, but also the power of teamwork, the importance of networking, and the responsibility we hold as future scientists.