The Young Scientist Spotlight series features our former students involved with our Treehouse UCSC Bioinformatics Immersion (TUBI) program, where students gain real-world work experience as researchers in a supportive environment, contributing to Treehouse bioinformatic projects! This week, we are catching up with former TUBI student Marcella Ceballos as she talks about how TUBI has impacted her research interests.
Interview by Krizia Chambers
How did you get introduced to TUBI?
I am a transfer student, and I was looking for opportunities to get involved in research. I was going through my emails and came across the informational meeting for TUBI. I went and met Dr. Beale and Yvonne, and I was instantly interested in participating! I felt comfortable and welcome as a transfer student. They were really supportive and approachable. After the meeting, I made sure to sign up for the newsletter to receive notifications for the application.
What was your favorite memory in your TUBI cohort?
My favorite memory stems from hearing guest speakers and learning the backstory of how they got to where they were especially Dr.Beale and Yvonne. Another good memory was recognizing how I gained confidence in myself as the program continued. I felt more comfortable with my peers and gained the confidence needed to ask questions or ask for help if I got stuck during a protocol. Because of my gain in confidence, I was able to gain during TUBI made me want to help others during the protocol.
What was the most challenging part of the program? How do you think you overcame this challenge?
Being nervous and asking questions was the most challenging part. The first step was trying to understand what I didn’t understand and ask the right questions. I needed to understand what the data means and what it means to call variants. Dr.Beale and Yvonne helped me see what I am doing and am learning. inTUBI has helped a greater purpose for science. I learned that there are various ways to be a participant and help drive research forward. I can contribute to healthcare that does not have to be patient-facing. We can work to update what medicine is available and create new medicines.
What advice would you like to lend to the new cohort of TUBI students?
Just to be yourself. At first, I was really nervous, but staying true to yourself and being open-minded and open to asking questions really helps! Getting out of your comfort zone was really hard, but it really helped you. Attending events like the Vaske lab at St.Baldrick made me so happy and connected to my cohort. It is a worthwhile experience to go to this event!
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