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 Owen Moosman, who talks about how TUBI has impacted his research interests.
Interview by Krizia Chambers
Can you briefly describe your experience with TUBI? And what did you gain from participating in the program?
I can draw a direct line from my experience in TUBI to where I am now in my career as an undergraduate. I went from having zero practical experience in bioinformatics or scientific research to working in a genomics laboratory and using the computational skills I learned in TUBI daily. More than anything, this program ignited my desire to get involved in scientific research—motivating me to seek out opportunities I didn’t know existed previously.
What was your favorite memory in your TUBI cohort?
Visiting the genomic institute and Treehouse offices and lab space was a favorite memory of mine from this experience. Seeing where “the magic happens” helped me feel connected to the mission of Treehouse and to all the researchers working towards it. This was my first exposure to a research lab and helped inspire me to pursue further research environments.
What advice would you like to lend to the new cohort of TUBI students?
Get involved wherever you can. This is your chance to ask researchers, medical professionals, graduate students, professors, TUBI alumni, and other TUBI peers questions about their journey to where they are now. This program not only opened up opportunities for me to get involved in research, but also opened my eyes to what was possible for me. Personally, the connections I made and advice I received were the most invaluable part of this experience.
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