Clough-Weimer fellowship supports visiting undergraduate researcher
Aashna Bhatt, a rising junior majoring in bioengineering at the University of IllinoisÌýUrbana-Champaign, has been selected to receive the Clough-Weimer Summer Research Fellowship Award. The award is helping support Bhatt's participation in theÌýYoung Scholars Summer Research Program (YSSRP) this summer.Ìý
The Clough-Weimer Summer Research Fellowship in Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØ's Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE) provides undergraduate students with paid, immersive, full-time research opportunities alongside faculty mentors. The fellowship was established through a gift from alumnus Houston Frost and is named in honor of Emeritus ProfessorÌýDave Clough and ProfessorÌýAl Weimer in recognition of their contributions to the department.
As a fellowship recipient, Bhatt is conducting research in theÌý under the mentorship of Associate ProfessorÌýJerome Fox.ÌýÌý
YSSRP is a nine-week summer undergraduate research program hosted by Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder's Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. The program aims to spark interest in graduate study by providing students with hands-on research experience and professional development opportunities.
What does receiving this award mean to you?
I am very grateful to receive this award. It gives me the opportunity to spend time pursuing research that interests me and motivates me to continue growing as a researcher. I hope to use this award and my time here in YSSRP to strengthen my scientific skills.
Describe the research you are doing in the Fox Lab.
I study proteins called kinases, which act like molecular switches that help cells send and receive signals. I am investigating whether we can change these proteins so they interact with different targets than they normally would. This research could help scientists better understand how kinases recognize specific targets and mayÌýsupport the development of new therapies, since many medicines work by targeting kinases involved in disease.
Why did you decide to apply for the YSSRP?
I wanted to continue exploring research over the summer and was drawn to Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder’s interdisciplinary labs that integrate computational and experimental techniques. I also love that YSSRP is cohort-based with lots of fun and professional development programming that would make the summer a great experience.
How does participating in the YSSRP fit into your future plans?
I am considering pursuing graduate school in the future, and YSSRP provides an opportunity for me to connect with current graduate students and professors to gain insight about that pathway. It has also allowed me to further my experimental research skills, as I come from a computational lab background, which is a skillset that I hope to use for future job opportunities and research experiences.
What do you enjoy most about being in Boulder?
I’ve been in Boulder for about two weeks and have really enjoyed being surrounded by the mountains. There are so many outdoor activities to explore here, and I’m looking forward to hiking, rafting and, in general, spending more time in nature.