Student Researcher – Grace Waldron (Undergraduate Biology Graduate)
Grace Waldron is a recent graduate from NSU’s undergraduate program majoring in biology. She has been working with Dr. Appu Rathinavelu and colleagues in the Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Cancer Research (RGI). In this interview she shared about her diverse research experiences at NSU as well as her future academic and career plans.
Talk me through your journey to where you are at NSU now.
I am a Florida local who attended a biotechnology academy during high school, where I was exposed to research techniques and biotechnology courses. This led to my becoming certified as a biotechnology assistant by the 11th grade.
I chose to attend NSU due to its strong focus on undergraduate research, specifically found in my involvement with the Razor’s Edge program, and recently graduated in May 2022. My research journey at NSU began as an independent study student under the guidance of Dr. Appu Rathinavelu at the Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Cancer Research (RGI) in Fall 2020 before transitioning into a new position as a Razor’s Edge field experience student. After graduating in May, I have continued my work as a laboratory research assistant in RGI until I move to Omaha, Nebraska later this summer for graduate study.
My involvement with Razor’s Edge and RGI has enabled me to attend various symposiums and a national conference. While attending these events I was able to network and learn more about graduate programs, leading to my decision to apply to the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s master’s in cancer research program, which I’ll be starting this coming academic year.
What research are you engaged in at the university?
This summer I am working with Dr. Umamaheswari Natarajan at RGI on in vitro and in vivo studies designed to test a patented drug for the treatment of glioblastoma, as well as treatments for lung, breast, prostate and ovarian cancer, and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
My prior research has included looking at breast cancer, specifically MCF7 cells, which was presented at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) in November 2021. Additionally, I have studied necroptosis treatment for breast cancer and this research was presented at the Undergraduate Student Symposium at NSU in 2021 and 2022, placing 1st in the poster presentation category. This study looked at the HDAC inhibitor SAHA and the ways it can be integrated into treatment.
ABRCMS 2021 Poster
What made you interested in this type of research?
I was driven to study cancer by my passion to help patients, alleviating cancer symptoms and extending their lives. I have family members who have been afflicted by cancer, furthering my dedication to research in this area. I have a drive to help others and to use my experience to develop effective, longstanding treatments for cancer symptom reduction.
How does this work relate to your future career goals, and what do you plan to do next?
I will be completing a two-year master’s degree in cancer research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). After this program, I plan to stay at UNMC and complete a Ph.D. program in cancer research. From this experience I hope to become a scientist, professor, or independent researcher.
What advice do you have for students interested in getting involved in research?
I suggest students interested in research connect with faculty in their interested field of study and reach out to professors with active research labs. The Razor’s Edge program, which I applied to in my senior year of high school, offers courses and mentoring for students to engage in research with a capstone project of creating a university-based research project. This was one of the major reasons I came to NSU, and it has set me up to excel in future degree programs and my career plans.