From Curiosity to Impact: My Journey into the Empower Program!
June 22, 2025
Hello everyone! My name is Emily, and I am currently a rising Junior studying Biology with a growing passion for cancer research and community centered healthcare. As someone who is still exploring future career pathways and how science can directly impact people’s lives, I have found myself drawn to exploring the different career fields, people, and systems that make healthcare work. This curiosity is what inspired me to apply to the Empower Fellowship, where I am able to get immersive research experience to learn more about cancer biology, build lab skills, receive one-on-one mentorship, and explore the real-world research at Fox Chase!
Even though it’s just the beginning, I’m already so excited and motivated by what lies ahead. I look forward to discovering different careers through weekly workshops and career panels, as well as gaining insights from the mentorship offered throughout the program. Meanwhile I am also thrilled to start in the Luo laboratory with Dr. Hanzhi Luo to engage in hands-on scientific research in leukemia. The Empower Fellowship offers a great opportunity to blend career exploration with meaningful laboratory work and to truly experience the supportive, collaborative spirit of a research community.
Through this fellowship I hope to strengthen my lab foundation and to better understand the research process from the lab to the hospital, and to gain more clarity on my own future path in healthcare or biomedical science. I’m excited to grow alongside my mentors and the incredible group of 11 other Empower Fellows who share similar passions and ultimately be able to present what I have been working on for the next two months! I know this summer will be a challenge and inspiration, and I'm so grateful to be part of this program that empowers students like me to not only grow as scientists, but also hopefully future leaders in STEM.
Finding my Footing in Research
July 12, 2025
Six weeks have gone by so fast, and now I can’t believe we’re already more than halfway through the fellowship! It’s incredible to look back and see how much I’ve learned in such a short time. Coming in with no prior research experience, I was definitely nervous as heck, but I’ve gathered so much more knowledge since then. From feeling unsure about basic lab techniques to confidently running experiments and analyzing data, it’s been an amazing journey so far. This experience has taught me how important it is to stay open-minded and resilient. Experiments fail, mistakes happen, but through reflection, asking questions, and staying patient, growth happens!
My lab is investigating the small population of leukemic stem cells (LSCs) that can renew themselves and resist treatment, often leading to disease relapse. Using model cell lines, we will adjust gene activity and track how the cells respond over time with different techniques that help us detect changes at the cellular level. By studying the factors that help LSCs persist, we hope to identify new strategies that could improve treatment outcomes for AML patients. It’s been challenging but incredibly rewarding to be a part of this investigation.
Outside of the lab, I’ve had such amazing experiences too. I attended the MATES retreat, where I got to connect with fellows in other research programs. The conversations and lectures I had were really enriching and reminded me that science isn’t a solo journey, it thrives best with collaboration. I also feel really lucky to be part of such a supportive and incredible cohort, we’ve spent evenings watching TV shows together, exploring neighborhoods near Fox Chase, and going to events in Center City. I’m having a blast and can’t believe how quickly time is flying by!
Gratitude, Growth, and Good Memories
August 9, 2025
I can't believe how fast these ten weeks have passed! I felt like I made such close bonds with my advisors, mentors, lab members, and Empower fellows. Reflecting on the beginning weeks I remember feeling so excited yet anxious, unsure of the process and the outcome of this summer. I had doubts about whether I’d be able to complete what I set out to do, or worried that I might not be able to fully understand everything. But this whole process turned out to be nothing like the nerve-wracking experience I had imagined in my head. Instead, I learned so many new things that I know I’ll carry with me in the future whether inside or outside the lab.
I loved the work I did in the Luo Lab and was surprised at the amount of freedom I had to shape my own experiments. Having the trust and guidance to explore ideas made me feel both challenged and supported. :) I want to give a big shout out to my PI and mentor, Dr. Hanzhi Luo. From the very beginning, she made me feel so welcomed, always taking the time to answer my questions, encouraging me when I doubted myself, and celebrating each milestone, no matter how small. Her belief in my potential gave me the confidence to keep pushing forward. I’m also so thankful for my fellow Empower students who were right alongside me during this journey. Whether it was sharing late-night laughs or grabbing dinner together after a long day in the lab, their friendship made this experience even more meaningful.
Leading up to the final symposium I was a nervous wreck. I kept imagining all the things that could go wrong like blanking out mid-sentence, stumbling over my words, or completely losing my train of thought. But when the day came, it flew by pretty smoothly. The encouragement I felt from my mentors, lab members, and fellow students helped steady my nerves, and once I started speaking, the words just came. Looking back now, I’m proud of how far I’ve come, both in my project and in my ability to share my work with others.
As the program wraps up, I’m filled with a lot of gratitude. I want to thank everyone who has been a part of my journey like my Empower advisors, my mentor and lab mates in the Luo Lab, and the amazing cohort of Empower Fellows I had the pleasure of learning and growing alongside. This summer has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had, and I will remember these teachings and the memories for years to come.