Margaret Hu, COL ’28, Richmond Hill, Ontario
Even before coming to Penn, I was extremely interested in immunology and vaccine development. When I saw that Penn’s own researcher, Dr. Weissman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2023, I was extremely intrigued and inspired. His groundbreaking work was one of the factors that drew me to Penn.
This past summer I was privileged to have the opportunity to conduct research at the Weissman Lab, developing mRNA vaccines and protein therapeutics. My group’s focus was developing a universal mRNA flu vaccine against the influenza virus. The influenza virus goes through constant antigenic changes, resulting in rapid production of different influenza vaccines in order to keep up with these changes. A universal vaccine would provide longer-lasting protection against the rapid mutations in antigenic characteristics and reduce the number of influenza vaccines in a person’s lifetime.
Under the mentorship of Ping Zhou, I was able to learn a lot about scientific research. I learned a lot about work in the laboratory and also picked up skills and techniques that would be applicable for me as a pre-med student. But what really left an impression was the precision that went into research at the Weissman Lab. I was amazed at the careful experiment design and the accuracy and care that went into each experiment.
This opportunity is one that I can carry with me into the future as an experience that truly broadened my horizons.
This is part of a series of posts by recipients of the 2025 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
