As this is my first blog post, some introductions are in order. Hello! — My name is Sabrina Iqbal and I am a rising junior studying microbiology and urban studies. For the summer fellowship, I am excited to be researching HPV and its relationship to women-related diseases.
The Current Situation
During the past academic year, I participated in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program where I worked with other students on a project centered around HPV. Fortunately, I will be continuing to work on the same project for the summer fellowship but with a focus on diseases affecting women.
Even without the unexpected events of the past several months, the structure of my research itself was not how I imagined it — but I’m not mad about it. Initially, I thought I would be working with my mentor more closely since I have only ever worked with her in a group setting with other students. Much to my surprise, I am working alongside my peers that I have worked with for several months now. I will basically be working with them as I always have but also be doing my own tasks with the fellowship. On top of that, as I was chatting with my mentor over Google Meet, I discovered that I will be the project coordinator for the current paper we are working on. The computer’s camera couldn’t hide my shocked expression, most noticeably my raised eyebrows peeping from behind the mug of coffee I was sipping on. Part of what I have to do is to distribute responsibilities to the other students on the team. It feels like a typical group project but the research is more serious.
~**New Self Discoveries*~
Based on past experiences, I know that I don’t handle uncertainty well. I begin to worry and frantically try to do something meaningful with my time but to no avail. That being said, my nerves haven’t wavered and self-doubt hasn’t crept into my heart as plans for the future unravel and mold into something new. Living with the sudden change of plans for the past several months forced me to embrace the unexpected. This mentality has carried over to how I handle my research. I am hopeful that I’ll be able to get the most out of this fellowship. I can say that with some level of confidence especially since I know my team and mentor are supportive and understanding.
Looking Forward…
We are still in the first few weeks of the fellowship and a lot of change has happened and will, most likely, continue to happen. Despite the unexpectedness of the future, I want my passion for research to expand beyond the field I’m interested in and find the interdisciplinarity of research. We are living in a new frontier, but I’m here for it and ready to take it on.
From my home to yours,
Sabrina Iqbal