Sophie Voss

What does research mean to you? 
Research is the means through which our society progresses to the future, and I have seen this firsthand. Two of my family members and I have type 1 diabetes, which led my childhood to be filled with participation in fundraisers for type 1 diabetes research. The idea that people were exploring ways to improve my life and the lives of others with type 1 diabetes provided a sense of hope that one day treatments could improve and, possibly, a cure could be found. As time went on, I have witnessed the rapid progression of type 1 diabetes treatments, like the artificial pancreas, from initial research stages to today when such systems are commercially available. I know the profound impacts that the findings of research can make on an individual’s life and this sparked my interest in exploring the possibility of incorporating research into my future career plans. My research as a part of the Green Fellows program has been particularly meaningful to me because it is directly linked to type 1 diabetes. My project studying the development of the pancreas can elucidate means through which conditions like type 1 diabetes occur.

Tell us about your journey.
I have had an interest in medicine and research from a young age. During my first week at UT Dallas, I stopped by the Green Fellows booth at an organization fair. Learning about the program and hearing from past Green Fellows intrigued me, inspiring me to keep the Green Fellows pen I received on my desk where it continually reminded me of what an amazing, insightful program the Green Fellowship must be. As I did not have any background in research, I was uncertain if participation in the Green Fellows program would be possible for me. Meanwhile, my interest in research was amplified through exposure to the experimental process in lab coursework and, ultimately, I was honored to be selected as a Green Fellow. 

What was your favorite part about the program?
Being able to immerse myself full-time in lab is my favorite part of the program. Green Fellows provides the unique opportunity to truly see what life working in lab is like without interfering concerns about course assignments and grades. If I want to go into lab early because I am excited to image slides or stay in lab late to finish day 1 of a western blot, then I am welcome to do so. This independence provides for a highly meaningful experience. The members of the Cleaver lab have been very supportive and, with their guidance, I learn something new every day in lab. 

What was the biggest thing you learned from the program?
The biggest thing I learned was an understanding of the process of research as a whole, from planning a project to presenting findings and everything in between. A large lesson within this was recognizing that even if a protocol is followed exactly, there are variables which may still cause an experiment to fail whether it be problems with tissue, antibodies not working properly, etc. It is important to constantly evaluate your experiments and, when things do not go as planned, to problem-solve and determine the next step.

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Advice for Future Green Fellows

​The Green Fellows program is a great learning opportunity—not only from learning what working full-time in a lab is like but also from learning scientific concepts, techniques, and skills. Do not be afraid to take notes and ask all of your questions! You will gain as much out of this experience as the effort you put forth, so come to lab each day ready to learn as much as you can.