The students, Thina Cele (Biomedical Sciences BSc) and Yohance Victory (Cancer Biology and Immunology MSci) wrote a reflective account about time in the different labs. Their reflections will be shared with the Lacks family and the HELA100 Team.
The students visited five different research labs, gaining valuable experience in the fields of cancer biology and immunology. They were also able to get some hands-on experience in the Faculty's Flow Cytometry Facility. Dr Bethan Lloyd-Lewis, one of the Principal Investigators hosting the students said “It was a pleasure to host Thina and Yohance in our lab, they were very motivated and engaged, and asked great questions.” Dr Gareth Jones who also hosted the students agreed: "The Henrietta Lacks students were so engaged and switched on - I was impressed."
Speaking about the programme, Thina said “Participating in the Henrietta Lacks work experience programme has been an enlightening journey. I got a firsthand opportunity to engage in laboratory activities where I gained valuable insight into experimental techniques, data analysis, and the collaborative nature of scientific inquiry. Moreover, talking to different researchers and hearing about their career journeys has helped me solidify my commitment to pursuing a career in cancer research.”
Yohance told us that “The Henrietta Lacks scholarship was very insightful and I would recommend it to anyone. It provides useful lab experience allowing you to develop proficiency in experimental techniques. However, what I found more useful was learning about the personal experiences of researchers at various stages in their careers. These conversations have helped me decide my next steps in which I hope to complete a masters before pursuing a PhD.”
Building on the success of the Henrietta Lacks Scholarship programme, the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine plans to offer another paid opportunity in the summer of 2024 for a 6-week long project. Further details and information on how to apply will be shared in due course.