The Unexpected Path to Purpose (and Protein Pathways)
June 20, 2025
Hi! My name is Ana Obradovic, and I'm a rising sophomore at the University of Delaware studying Biomedical Engineering and Applied Mathematics with a focus on disease and treatment modeling, particularly in cancer therapies, drug delivery, and chronic disease management. But like most great discoveries, my path here wasn't linear or planned.
I came to UD as a biomedical engineering student ready to revolutionize medicine—or so I thought. The reality was more overwhelming than inspiring. Bioinstrumentation, bioimaging, biomaterials, tissue engineering, body-scale biomechanics, biosystems—the options seemed endless, and I found myself paralyzed by choice. I even considered switching to a narrower engineering major like electrical (thankfully, that moment of panic passed).
That is when Dr. Schleiniger, my Calc II professor, changed my trajectory. After taking his class, he reached out about pursuing a double major in Applied Math, which at first seemed too abstract and intimidating.
Amazingly, he also remembered an email I’d sent about missing class to attend a Discovery Day at Fox Chase Cancer Center, something I’d signed up for on a whim, partly just to escape campus for a day. During our meeting, I learned that Dr. Schleiniger was conducting research on mathematical modeling of stem cell proliferation in the colon. That conversation opened my eyes to an entirely new path. I declared the second major shortly after and found my academic focus: using mathematical and computational models to better understand human diseases.
With this new direction, my goals for the Empower Fellowship also shifted. I had originally applied seeking general lab experience and exposure to career paths in medicine. But by the time the program started, I was eager to dive deep into the molecular mechanisms of disease—especially cancer—and learn how researchers visualize, quantify, and modify the signaling pathways involved.
Just two weeks into working in Dr. Golemis’s lab at Fox Chase, my experience has already far exceeded expectations. The researchers here aren’t just brilliant—they’re kind, patient, and genuinely excited to share their knowledge while supporting yours. It’s the kind of environment where curiosity is encouraged, and questions are celebrated.
My project focuses on understanding therapeutic resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), particularly in the most difficult cases—those aggressive, treatment-resistant tumors that fail to respond to conventional therapies. I’ve been analyzing drug synergy assays to evaluate the effectiveness of targeted inhibitor combinations, using molecular biology techniques such as western blotting, flow cytometry, and viability assays. I’m also incorporating computational modeling to better quantify treatment responses. This work has already deepened my understanding of experimental design, pathway analysis, and therapeutic development in ways I couldn’t have imagined a few weeks ago.
But the most valuable part of this experience has been the people. Every fellow and staff member I’ve met has an insatiable curiosity—not just about science, but about the world. Weekly lectures from different labs provide an incredible look into the diverse research being done here, as well as the wide-ranging personal journeys of the scientists behind it. I’ve heard stories from researchers who immigrated multiple times, learning biology in a new language each time; from those who transitioned into oncology from other fields like computer science; and from educators devoted to mentoring the next generation of scientists.
The intersection of mathematics and medicine isn’t just my academic focus—it’s become my calling. And I’m incredibly grateful that the Empower Fellowship offered me a stepping stone toward that larger equation I’m meant to solve.
For any student seeking not only technical experience but also clarity, inspiration, and a broader perspective on the scientific world, I highly recommend the Empower Program. It’s more than just a summer fellowship—it’s a launchpad.
Notes from the Bench: Midway Through My Fellowship
July 13, 2025
In addition to hands-on lab work, the career talks organized by the fellowship have been eye-opening. It’s been fascinating to hear from professionals working in so many different roles within the cancer center — from lawyers who handle the legal aspects of research, to oncological radiologists, to people involved in teaching and research management. These talks really highlighted how a career path can take many unexpected turns, and how there are so many unique ways to contribute to biomedical research beyond the bench.
One of the standout experiences this month was attending the MATES retreat. It was an amazing opportunity to connect with students from other programs and hear about what they’re studying and where they are in their educational and career journeys. I loved learning about the diverse areas they’re exploring — from public policy and healthcare programs to DE&I research, bioinformatics, and biostatistics. Networking with them and exchanging contacts was a highlight — it’s so inspiring to see how varied yet interconnected our paths can be.
Another aspect I’ve really appreciated is getting to know my lab team better. Everyone has been so welcoming and supportive — the lab culture is very collaborative and social. We chat throughout the day, which makes even repetitive procedures more enjoyable and the time pass much faster. I’ve also gained valuable experience in troubleshooting experiments and figuring out the next steps when things don’t go as planned — an important skill in any research setting.
I’m excited to keep building on everything I’ve learned so far and can’t wait to see where the next few weeks take me!
Innovation, Mentorship, and Discovery: My EMPOWER Summer
August 10, 2025
When I first walked into the labs at Fox Chase Cancer Center this summer, I thought I knew exactly what research looked like—follow protocols, collect data, repeat. But the EMPOWER Fellowship quickly taught me that the most exciting discoveries happen when things don't go according to plan. My project focused on investigating whether co-targeting Aurora kinase A (AURKA) and mTOR could overcome resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), a devastating cancer that affects over 54,000 Americans annually. The rationale was compelling: when tumors develop resistance to cetuximab (the only FDA-approved EGFR inhibitor for HNSCC), they often overexpress MET, which activates survival pathways. By hitting both AURKA and mTOR—two parallel survival pathways—we hypothesized we could outmaneuver these resistant cancer cells.
What I discovered quickly was that the most rewarding moments came during data analysis and troubleshooting unexpected results. Working alongside my mentor Flavi and under Dr. Erica Golemis's guidance, I found myself energized by the process of investigating why our synergy assays showed different patterns than expected—was this a technical error, or were we seeing something biologically significant? I loved diving into the data, discussing possible explanations, and designing follow-up experiments to test our hypotheses. This analytical problem-solving became my favorite aspect of research, far more engaging than simply following established protocols.
What truly set the EMPOWER Fellowship apart was how it expanded my vision of what a STEM career could look like. Through the career talk series, I met incredible professionals like Dr. Jerome Maddox, whose path from public health PhD to law school to Fox Chase's legal department showed me that expertise in science opens doors I'd never imagined. Dr. Yash Chhabra's presentation about overcoming obstacles and building mentoring relationships inspired me to reflect on my own career journey and the importance of strong mentor relationships throughout my academic path. My informational interviews with computational researchers like Dr. Sven Miller and Dr. Sergio Zamora-Erazo revealed how my background in applied math and biomedical engineering could bridge into exciting fields like bioinformatics and computational modeling. Perhaps most importantly, the program's career assessment pointed me toward possibilities in business, finance, and intellectual property—areas I'd never seriously considered but that perfectly align with my love for innovation and working on multiple projects simultaneously. The EMPOWER Fellowship has opened my eyes to how my background in applied math and biomedical engineering can lead to diverse and exciting career paths I never knew existed. This summer didn't just teach me lab techniques—it taught me that the intersection of science, business, and innovation is where I want to build my future.