![\"Summer](\"https:\/\/sop.washington.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Summer-Scholars.jpg\")
Over the summer, six eager undergrads set forth on a pilgrimage of scientific discovery at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy.<\/p>\nOver the summer, six eager undergrads set forth on a pilgrimage of scientific discovery at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy.<\/p>\n
The inaugural cohort of Nelson-Mendenhall Summer Scholars has emerged on the other side of an inspiring experience rooted in cutting-edge research and providing the kind of priceless perspective shifts that only come in college \u2013 one that\u2019s transformed their perspective on pharmacy, science and the future.<\/p>\n
Launched in June 2024, the Nelson-Mendenhall Summer Scholars Program (NMP) offers undergraduate students the rare opportunity to pursue high-level research under the mentorship of first-rate faculty and researchers from the UW School of Pharmacy.<\/p>\n
Designed to inspire the next generation of healthcare innovators and underrepresented communities in STEM, the Summer Scholars Program provides students with funded, hands-on experience in the lab as they tackle the most pressing medical challenges of our time.<\/p>\n
Supported by a $7,500 stipend, our Summer Scholars immersed themselves in meaningful work, from developing an HIV vaccine to understanding the effects of medications on babies in utero. Before the first cohort kicked off in June, applicants submitted a statement of purpose, a resume and the names of two references to be considered for this unique opportunity.<\/p>\n
For first-generation college students like Claire Truongdang<\/strong>, a biochemistry major at UW Bothell, the Summer Scholars Program was a lifeline in more ways than one: \u201cWhen I found out I was selected, I was extremely happy \u2013 I even missed my bus stop that morning! My mom was laid off this summer when her company moved out of state. It gave us a lot of stress. Thanks to the Summer Scholars Program, the stipend helped us keep up with our bills during a tough time.\u201d<\/p>\n Claire\u2019s work in the lab this past summer \u2013 RNA extraction from placenta tissue \u2013 gave her a new perspective on interdisciplinary research and how it could shape her future in medicine.<\/p>\n \u201cThis project helped me align my interest in chemistry to the career path I\u2019m pursuing in medicine,\u201d she said. \u201cI see myself doing interdisciplinary work that connects clinical and scientific questions. Through my work in the lab, I came to realize that science is rarely focused on female bodies, nor do researchers put female bodies at the center of their scientific process. I want to address these questions and the limitations of our current system.\u201d<\/p>\n When you ask Vincent Chan <\/strong>\u2013 a biochemistry major at Seattle University \u2013 about his experience in the program, he\u2019ll tell you it was a huge step toward his dream of earning a PhD in pharmaceutics.<\/p>\n \u201cThis research gave me hands-on experience with drug formulation and delivery, which is foundational for my future plans,\u201d he said. \u201cI applied because I was eager to get more lab experience. When I found out I was selected, I was absolutely over the moon! It felt like a huge opportunity to advance in my academic goal.\u201d<\/p>\n Vincent, whose research focused on the synthesis of polymeric prodrug nanoparticles for drug delivery, found that the program pushed him to grow as both a scientist and a researcher. \u201cI learned how detailed and innovative pharmacy research needs to be, especially when working on advanced drug delivery methods,\u201d he said, noting that the unpredictability of nanoparticle sizes challenged him to think more critically and adaptively. Vincent added that this hands-on experience brought him one step closer to his goal of becoming Dr. Vincent Chan.<\/p>\n Sydney Arnzen<\/strong>, another biochemistry major, had a deeply personal connection to her work in the lab of Dr. Ed Kelly<\/strong>, which focused on the transport of nephrotoxic mycotoxins \u2013 organic contaminants in the body that can cause kidney damage.<\/p>\n \u201cKidney disease runs in my family, so research like this hits close to home,\u201d Sydney explained. \u201cWorking in a lab that revolves around kidney health is a great source of pride for me and the people I love.\u201d<\/p>\n As one who knew she was destined to help others through science, pursuing research has always been a passion for Sydney. \u201cThrough my coursework at the UW, I learned about the world of pharmacy and the breadth of research and impact happening there,\u201d she reflected. \u201cI committed myself to finding a niche in research that helped others and fulfilled my own passions. This led me to drug discovery, medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutics. Research has given me the opportunity to make life-sized impact through microscopic means.\u201d<\/p>\n For Sarah Stone <\/strong>of Eastern Washington University, the Summer Scholars Program offered her the opportunity to dive headfirst into research, immersing herself fully for the very first time. \u201cI was worried I wouldn\u2019t enjoy research as a career because I could never focus on it during the school year,\u201d she admitted. \u201cHaving this kind of preview into lab work really settled those doubts by allowing me to give it my full, undivided attention.\u201d<\/p>\n Working in the lab of Dr. Rodney Ho<\/strong>, Sarah\u2019s summer research involved pancreatic cancer cells, which required her to develop new lab skills and gave her a better understanding of the complexity of experimental design. \u201cI asked to work with Dr. Ho because his lab seemed to be doing more chemistry-based research, and I thought it would mesh well with my lab experience,\u201d she said \u201cI wound up doing cell culturing with pancreatic cancer cells, then doing cell viability assays after treatment with antibodies. I\u2019m likely going to be using similar techniques in the near future, and cell culture training can take a while since you\u2019re limited by the growth rate of the cells.It\u2019s an incredibly valuable skill to have that I\u2019m fairly certain I\u2019m going to need in my career.\u201d<\/p>\n These opportunities were made possible through the generosity of Doug Mendenhall<\/strong>, a community-minded alumnus of the School of Pharmacy, whose own celebrated career in pharmaceutical chemistry was shaped by a similar experience.<\/p>\n Encouraged by his friend and fellow undergraduate, Sid Nelson <\/strong>\u2013 who would later become Dean of the School of Pharmacy from 1994 to 2008 \u2013 Doug embarked on a summer research internship that ignited his passion for scientific discovery. Their friendship and mutual inspiration continued to shape Doug\u2019s journey, personally and professionally, for years to come. He made significant contributions to the development of 70 marketed products, with his innovations reflected in three patents.<\/p>\n \u201cThat program was very impactful for me,\u201d remarked Doug. \u201cI always had a significant box to check in my estate planning \u2013 I\u2019m going to give back to the schools that allowed me to get where I am. That was always a given. It was just a question of what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n Cut to today, and Doug is paying it forward. By endowing this program, he has ensured that promising students have access to the same kind of transformational experiences that launched his career so many years ago.<\/p>\n The inaugural class of Nelson-Mendenhall Summer Scholars worked alongside top researchers at the University of Washington, building skills and making discoveries that will fuel their academic and professional futures. Doug\u2019s vision for the program is simple \u2013 to provide students from diverse backgrounds with access to research opportunities they wouldn\u2019t have encountered otherwise.<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to ensure our first cohort of students came from beyond the University of Washington,\u201d he remarked, elaborating on his belief in diversity of thought for better research, and expanded career possibilities for students.<\/p>\n Claire, for example, discovered how even the smallest moments in the lab could have a major impact: \u201cAt one point, I realized that my sample storage methods were causing bad data. It reminded me of my fundamental chemistry coursework and how important that basic knowledge is.\u201d<\/p>\n Given her family history with kidney disease, Sydney\u2019s time in the Kelly Lab gave her a new sense of passion and purpose. \u201cOn one of my first days in the lab, I sat down with Dr. Kelly and we talked about the gene that caused my father\u2019s Polycystic Kidney Disease. It was incredible to hear about the real progress being made,\u201d she recalled. \u201cI\u2019ve never been so proud to work in this space.\u201d Sydney plans to continue working with the Kelly Lab through the school year, building on the knowledge and skills she developed over the summer as a result of NMP.<\/p>\n Beyond the skill-sharpening, career-building and memory-making, the Summer Scholars Program instilled a deep sense of community for those who took part.<\/p>\n In the lab of Dr. Shijie Cao<\/strong>, Vincent described the environment as a \u201cclose-knit\u201d space where he worked closely with graduate students and faculty. \u201cThey consistently offer insights and share their knowledge every day,\u201d he said. \u201cTheir guidance and support was crucial to my project.\u201d Similarly, Sydney was moved by the outreach and mentorship she received during her experience over the summer: \u201cThe Kelly Lab is passionate about nurturing future scientists, and I\u2019ve been supported in every way,\u201d Sydney stated. \u201cI especially appreciate the moments spent discussing my passions and having mentors take time out of their day to put me on the path toward my dreams. I know the connections I made this summer will guide me into the next stages of my career.\u201d<\/p>\n For Doug, this kind of mentorship is precisely what he envisioned when he created the program. \u201cPharmacy is very structured\u2026 Because there\u2019s a good, reliable professional endpoint, there\u2019s little reason to deviate from that path,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n Doug\u2019s hope for the Nelson-Mendenhall Summer Scholars Program is straightforward: to broaden students\u2019 horizons, open doors to research and introduce career opportunities beyond the traditional paths of pharmacy. \u201cAs a student in STEM, if you get the chance to look into some lesser known directions to take your career, you might say, \u2018I want to try that.\u2019 And that was the whole idea \u2013 opening doors for bright students to consider directions for their career they never knew existed.\u201d<\/p>\n With the first year of the Summer Scholars Program in the rearview, Doug sees our success as the beginning of an impactful legacy. \u201cThis is a great seed program \u2013 money well spent,\u201d he stated. \u201cThe hope is that it catches on and spreads.\u201d Doug\u2019s ultimate goal for the program is to inspire not only current students, but also alumni and friends of the University to invest in the next generation of trailblazers in pharmacy, science and healthcare.<\/p>\n Moving forward, our Summer Scholars have big plans ahead: For Sarah, she\u2019s looking forward to her senior thesis on infant encephalopathy planned. \u201cEven if none of the knowledge I gained this summer is especially relevant, I\u2019m far more comfortable in a lab now and will be able to work more efficiently.\u201d Claire plans to continue her research at UW Medicine in collaboration with the Wang Lab.<\/p>\n For Doug, giving back is a personal mission. \u201cTo me, everyone should be doing some level of giving back to inspire the next generation,\u201d he says. And with the Nelson-Mendenhall Summer Scholars Program, Doug is doing just that \u2013 opening doors for curious minds, just as a few were opened for him all those years ago.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Over the summer, six eager undergrads set forth on a pilgrimage of scientific discovery at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy. The inaugural cohort of Nelson-Mendenhall Summer Scholars has emerged on the other side…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":32969,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32966","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sop-news"],"yoast_head":"\n