April Park COL ’26, Bakersfield, CA
This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to continue working in the Lee Lab at the Perelman School of Medicine. The lab, part of the otorhinolaryngology department, focuses on translational research related to diseases of the ear, nose, and throat. However, much of the lab’s recent work centers on bitter taste receptors—their mechanisms and their potential therapeutic applications in various cancers. Contrary to common belief, bitter taste receptors are not limited to the tongue; they are also found in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and even the brain.
Having worked in the lab since my freshman spring semester, I was familiar with the types of experiments and the various research projects underway, but still felt not very much immersed as much as I desired due to my time constraints during school. Because I would be dedicating my entire summer time to the lab, I told myself that this summer would be my chance to fully engage with and advance our understanding of bitter taste receptors.
As a neuroscience major, I was keen on working on a neuroscience related project. After talking with Dr. Lee, he suggested that I research the bitter taste receptors in the neuronal cells, an area with limited existing knowledge. Although a fairly broad research topic, after conducting numerous research experiments, and discussing my findings with Dr. Lee, the experimental results granted a clearer direction of research for me to pursue. The invaluable opportunity to undertake my own research project taught me countless new skills and lessons, from deciphering rather dense research papers to learning head-on that roadblocks are just a reminder to look at problems in a different perspective.
Ultimately, what I valued most about this experience was the autonomy it provided. As the “owner” of my project, I planned ahead my experiments, using my best judgment to discern the best steps forward while seeking guidance from my mentor, Joel, whom I went to for questions about anything and everything. This research opportunity definitely made my summer fulfilling, and I am very grateful for my mentors in the lab and to Career Services for making it possible.
This is part of a series of posts by recipients of the 2024 Career Services Summer Funding Grant. We’ve asked funding recipients to reflect on their summer experiences and talk about the industries in which they spent their summer. You can read the entire series here
