Written by Jennifer Marangos | August 16, 2024 | SHARE
Tahmina Raisa, ‘25
Biochemistry
NSF REU - Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD
The National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF REU) enables undergraduate students to engage in paid summer research internships for 6 to 10 weeks at more than 700 universities and research institutions across the United States. Raisa applied for this highly competitive opportunity with the support of the Lehigh’s Office of Fellowship Advising. We caught up with her about four weeks into her 10-week project at Johns Hopkins University, where Raisa is studying the function of actin in the life cycle of Microsporidia.
What has been the most exciting thing about your experience so far?
This is the first time I have ever designed my own assays and worked independently on my own project at a complex lab setting. Being able to push myself to think like a true researcher for the first time in my academic career here has definitely been exciting.
Tell us about some of the sites you’ve seen/places you have visited?
So far, I have been to the Baltimore harbor which I absolutely loved as I love being by the water. The crabs and seafood here are also amazing!
If you could give one piece of advice to someone about to apply for an NSF-REU, what would it be?
Start working on them early. I had already made my list of schools where I wanted to apply, asked my recommenders and had also started drafting my personal statements even before the applications opened. I tried to get my applications in as soon as they opened as it can get overwhelming alongside classes during the semester.
What's been the most rewarding part of your REU experience?
Bonding with my lab members. My lab consists of 2 PIs (Principal Investigators) and almost 12 grad students and postdocs and each of them have not only stepped up to help me whenever needed but also provided me with a perfect environment to prosper in. All the members of my lab here are very social and it makes working in the lab just so much more enjoyable!
How does participating in an REU relate to your long-term career plans?
The REU was the first step towards my goals as I aspire to become a scientist. This fall, I am applying to PhD programs in Biology and Biochemistry all over the country and this experience has helped tremendously to shape me as a good candidate. Throughout the entirety of the REU program, I was able to work independently on a project where I got the perfect feel of what grad school will be like. This experience has single handedly confirmed my passion for pursuing a career in scientific research.