Philly Takeover: Phase One
June 20, 2025
Hello, my name is Corinne Van Hoven and I am a rising senior at University of Delaware. I am studying Medical Laboratory Science and am minoring in Biology. I can remember from a young age trying to make my own microscopes out of paper (futile, I know) and just being full of wonder for the things around me. Like most children, I just wanted to better understand how the world around me worked. Unfortunately, I believe that we are led to abandon some of that whimsical urge to explore as we grow older. Some, if they are lucky, hold on to that wonderment. To me, those people are scientists.
I find my home in science, and thankfully, my curiosity has only fueled a passion for discovery. So you can imagine how I felt when I came across an email advertising a “Discovery Day” while going through my emails on a dreary October day. Upon some further investigation and a Google search, I now knew that Fox Chase Cancer Research Center existed and that I had a chance to go see all it had to offer. Fast forward to the last Discovery Day session in December, sitting in a room with a handful of other college students probably stressing about the upcoming finals, I remember thinking about just how much I wanted to be a part of this Fellowship. Being so impressed with the work that alumni had achieved made me realize that I could set my aspirations in motion, that this pent-up desire to do real world research could be fulfilled.
Now actually being at Fox Chase for the first few weeks has exceeded any expectations. If I could go back to December and tell myself that I would be here this summer, I’m not sure I would have believed you, and I can’t imagine just how excited I would have been if I knew just how much I would love it. Being an MLS major, one may think I have experienced a similar lab setting; however, Fox Chase is truly a special place. Here, the warmth from the community extends beyond the bench and bedside. I am beyond excited to be here and to see all I will learn!
I am doing my summer research in the lab of Dr. Amy Whitaker under the mentorship of graduate student Millie Coombes. My project centers around a fun (and very important) protein called APE1, which plays a crucial role in the base excision repair pathway. Specifically, I am studying how APE1 binds to various DNA base mismatches and studying the structure of those interactions using x-ray crystallography, as well as performing kinetics assays of the DNA-protein interaction. As someone who has always loved genetics, but never truly plunged into a genetics lab, I am both nervous and excited to be working on a niche genetics project (mostly very excited). One day, I hope to study how to better use the immune system to treat cancer, so being in a genetic lab is invaluable. Considering that cancer arises from genes acting up, being a part of such a wonderful team in my lab will only strengthen me as a scientist and help me on my journey to my future studies.
Ice Cream to Crystals
July 13, 2025
We are now entering week seven of ten! It feels like I just arrived in Philly and was getting ready for “boot camp” week. It’s amazing how close everyone in the cohort has gotten, and how much everyone has learned. From getting together a few nights a week to watch a particularly dramatic island show, to working hard, sometimes staying late to finish experiments, it has been a constant flurry of activity and fun! Last week we all got ice cream together after work, and this past weekend I got to explore the local city with some of the other fellows. Almost each day at work I see at least one of the other fellows in passing and it has been neat to see how they all are flourishing in their labs. I have to say, and maybe I’m biased, that my lab is the spot to be. I feel as though I belong, even though I have only been in the lab for seven weeks, that I truly have made a connection with each person. 
I am excited to go into work each day and spend time in such a positive environment. Everyone is so passionate about their research, and I admire how committed each individual is to lending a hand, whether it be to me or someone in another lab asking for a favor. As for my research, my project has been a work in progress, and have been homing in on my lab’s experimental techniques.
I am studying how the Base Excision Repair Protein, APE1 interacts with two different types of base mismatches, with the addition of a phosphorothioate. In order to analyze these mismatches I am using x-ray crystallography, pre-steady state kinetics, and Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA). EMSA should stand for Extra Moody Sassy Assay. I have learned that EMSA’s are very delicate and require a lot of practice to perfect. Thankfully, I am surrounded by an overwhelming amount of support and can safely say that I have tamed the EMSA beast. Also, I have been able to grow crystals to prepare them for analysis. This upcoming week I look forward to learning how to “solve” the crystal’s structure, and analyze data obtained from the Diffractometer.
Currently, I am excited to look ahead to the symposium and share my findings! I am equal parts nervous and scared out of my mind. I am looking forward to hearing the other fellow’s practice talk, and of course their final talks. Seeing everyone’s family, friends, and labs coming out to support all of us will be undeniably special. I know that there are still four more weeks until then, but if the weeks fly by as fast as they have been, it’ll be here in no time. For the time being, I look forward to working on my project, spending time with the fellows, and getting to experience our little slice of Philly.
Lessons Learned from a Protein
August 9, 2025
Despite being in a completely new city this summer, Philly was made to feel like a second home. Being in the Whitaker lab was truly invaluable. I felt that my lab fostered the perfect environment for learning and my growth as an aspiring scientist. Going into work each day never felt like a task, instead I was excited to work on my project and be around all the wonderful people who make up the lab. Additionally, the time spent outside of the lab was primarily with the other students in my cohort. Everyone made an effort to plan activities and hangout together. I look forward to moving back to school with a group of 11 smart and kind close friends.
As for my project; determining what mediates APE1’s substrate specificity at A/A and C/A mismatches, I took a great deal of lessons through the trial and error of my research. One thing that Dr. Purdy and Dr. Austria made sure to instill in us this: In Science you fail 99% of the time, but 1% of the time you succeed. I found this sentiment to be true, and through perseverance I was able to succeed. Instead of being frustrated when an experiment went wrong, I found myself coming to work the next day wanting to try again. Like APE1 remove mismatches and damages inserted by Polymerase ꞵ to allow it to try again, I too had to come back each day willing to try again. Thankfully, the hard work paid off and we were able to gain insight into APE1’s substrate specificity.
Through all of this, I had such a wonderful support system in and out of the lab. As a rising senior, I am getting ready to apply to grad school and step into the uncharted territory of life outside undergrad. Being surrounded by not only grad students, but Dr. Purdy, Dr. Austria, and Dr. Rall was very special. Before this summer, grad school felt like a distant and treacherous journey. However, I felt like I had a support system of people who could answer my questions and point me in the right direction. I am so fortunate to have been a part of the Empower Program this summer and I have grown so much as a scientist, a person, and the path ahead is bright!