During my time at the IU School of Medicine, I gained early internship experience as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in a pulmonary immunology research lab. This experience introduced me to translational research and helped me understand how laboratory findings can connect to clinical questions, patient outcomes, and long-term healthcare improvement.

My responsibilities as an Undergraduate Research Assistant included:

• Processing and organizing biological research samples, including bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

• Supporting laboratory workflows related to pulmonary immunology and post-COVID lung disease research.

• Assisting with data organization, quality checks, and research documentation.

• Learning research techniques such as ELISA, BCA assays, Western blotting, and data visualization.

• Collaborating with research team members while following lab protocols, safety expectations, and documentation standards.

Through this experience, I developed stronger attention to detail, scientific communication, data management, and problem-solving skills. It also helped me see how research, clinical care, and healthcare systems are connected.