It has been really fascinating to learn more about ovarian cancer, oviduct and ovary function, and the different roles that Pax genes play. Going into this lab, I knew there would be a steep learning curve because I was working with complex tasks and procedures that were new to me, such as detailed microscopy and imaging. It has been challenging to overcome some initial fears and imposter syndrome about the role I play in the lab. At first, it took some time to truly see myself as a researcher and part of the team. Working in-person every day alongside other lab members has helped me slowly overcome this feeling. Another challenge has been learning the details and background of the research project in such a short amount of time. Because this fellowship is 10 weeks, I really wanted to learn quickly. You may not know how complex the role of Pax2 genes are and how tricky it can be to analyze an image of a mouse oviduct that is the size of a seed – these are things I did not know at first, but now I do!
This research work speaks to my social identity as a woman. Ovarian cancer is an aggressive disease that can impact any individual with ovaries. Studying something that has the potential to demystify how this cancer originates is promising and shows how healthcare is advancing. In the future, I hope to enter medical school and specialize in women’s health. For this reason, it is interesting to see the research side of women’s health, as it will help supplement the clinical exposure I get in my career as a physician.