Elizabeth Sherwin
Left to right. Back row: Rachel Amedume, Dr. Daniela Garlisi Torales, Dr. Deena Zeltser, Chris Marshall, Kwabena Aboagye, Ben Sempowski; Middle row: Dr. Lola Zerbib, Andrea Bowling, Elizabeth Sherwin, Jessica Ding; Kneeling: Georgia Krikorian, Dr. Sarah Sheppard (PI)
I’m completing my summer internship at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) in the Unit on Vascular Malformations under the mentorship of tenure-track investigator Sarah Sheppard, M.D., M.S., Ph.D. This summer, I contributed to two research protocols: validating a Spanish scale and conducting a natural history study on lymphatic anomalies. My central research question was, “how do patients and families perceive resources for the management of complex lymphatic anomalies?” Dr. Sheppard’s translational medical approach has profoundly shaped my understanding of how research turns into medical treatments.
Currently pursuing international studies with a focus on global health and environmental studies at American University in Washington, D.C., I applied to the Summer Internship Program with an interest in health equity, leading to my selection for NICHD’s Health Equity Research Opportunities Experiences in Summer (HEROES) Program. This cohort-based experience provided me an opportunity to develop my research experience in a supportive environment, allowing me to present my research to NICHD principal investigators and participate in health equity seminars.
This internship has equipped me with invaluable skills and broadened my perspective on healthcare research, reinforcing my ambition to pursue advanced studies and focus on global health. In the coming semester, I will be studying abroad with increased confidence to pursue an advanced degree in global health. I am grateful for the mentorship from Dr. Sheppard’s lab, the Office of Health Equity, and the NIH community.
Haden Fincham
Left to right: Julia Silberman, Haden Fincham, Dr. Philip Adams (NICHD Independent Research Scholar), Ryan Fishman, Max Freedman
I am a rising junior at West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) in Buckhannon, West Virginia, majoring in biology. Last summer, I researched tick biodiversity and Borrelia burgdorferi incidence in North-central West Virginia alongside Melanie Sal, Ph.D., and Kim Bjorgo, Ph.D., both associate professors of biology and environmental science at WVWC. Our research involved collecting ticks from veterinarians as well as using a “tick flagging” technique and employing qPCR to detect B. burgdorferi infection in Ixodes scapularis, also known as the deer or blacklegged tick. Interestingly, Dr. Sal was a mentor to NICHD Independent Research Scholar Dr. Philip Adams, a 2012 WVWC alum, creating a unique connection in my educational journey.
My NIH experience began after learning about the NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP) from Dr. Sal. I applied to the Adams Lab and started in June. Mentored by Julia Silberman, a postbac in the Adams Lab, I’ve been using CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) toolkit to knock down RNA-binding proteins in B. burgdorferi and develop models that will allow us to investigate their function. This project has taught me valuable molecular biology techniques and the experience has been enriched by the kindness and patience of the Adams Lab and surrounding labs. Living in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, D.C., has also been a new and exciting experience for me, adding another layer to this incredible summer. My research culminated in a poster presentation at Summer Poster Days, and I loved the chance to develop my presentation skills.