Investing in the Future of Science
When NU senior Sarah Clark first stepped onto 爆料公社’s campus, she had no idea where her path would lead. She knew she loved science, but she never dreamed that one day she would be honored for her research at one of the largest undergraduate research conferences in the United States. Nor did she realize the impact that a science professor named Tracy Delgado would have on her life.
“The first class I had with Dr. Delgado was General Biology,” Sarah said. “For me it was very encouraging to see a woman in science. She showed me that it was possible to become a great researcher as a woman.”
With encouragement and guidance from Dr. Delgado (who had just received a grant from the Murdock Trust), Sarah began to explore the idea of becoming a researcher. It didn’t take long before she fully embraced it. “In science, you can ask so many different questions, and there is an eventual answer to each one. But you have to work really hard to find it. Research really stretches your ability to solve problems. I fell in love with it.”
Eventually, Sarah was chosen to participate in PURE (Pathway for Undergraduate Research Excellence), an NU program that mentors students in various research areas such as developing lab experiments, creating abstracts, attending conferences, applying to graduate schools, and obtaining research fellowships. According to Dr. Delgado, it was here that Sarah began to shine. However, it wasn’t just the level of her effort that impressed Dr. Delgado. “Sarah has such a love for science and puts such creativity into everything—if I give her a problem or task, I know she can do it.”
Sarah may have even exceeded Dr. Delgado’s high expectations when they attended the Society for the Advancement for Chicanos and Native Americans in the Sciences (SACNAS) conference. Out of 4,500 students, Sarah won “Best Poster Presentation in Microbiology.” Don’t be misled by the word “poster.” It is a vehicle that allows students to demonstrate mastery over their research projects. Judges go to each presentation and listen to students explain their research methodology, design, analysis, and conclusions. Those who show deep understanding and excellence in their area of research are awarded.
For Dr. Delgado, presenting great student research wasn’t the only goal at SACNAS. “This conference was designed to get people to think about the importance of diversity in science. I want my students to engage more deeply with people of color so that they better understand the pressures and obstacles they face.”
Sarah graduates in the spring of 2017 and will be applying to Ph.D. programs to further her studies in microbiology and molecular cell biology. The University of Washington and Harvard top her list.
Today, Sarah is much more sure of her future than she was as a freshman stepping onto NU’s campus four years ago. And she has someone to thank: “I would not be so clear about my future if Dr. Delgado had not guided me. Thanks to her investment in me, I am a very confident researcher now.”
While Sarah leaves NU, Dr. Delgado will remain behind to influence the next class of scientists. “There is real satisfaction in growing the next crop of scientists and doctors,” she said. “It is a ripple effect as they go on to grow the field of science and make a difference in the world.”
It’s very possible that somewhere down the road, a well-respected scientist named Sarah Clark will see a young researcher with promise. In that moment, she will be reminded of her time at NU. She will remember the investment made in her. And she will make it in another.