I was introduced to Oak Crest during my sophomore year of high school, when I was skeptical and confused about the career path I wanted to take. After taking AP Biology, I knew I had an interest in the science field, but I wasn’t sure if that interest was large enough to make a career out of, as I had never actually experienced working in a laboratory setting. Oak Crest reinforced my desire to pursue biology by providing me the opportunity to collaborate with mentors and peers who share the same interest as me, by allowing access to work hands-on without limitation, and by growing my knowledge by pushing me to think beyond scientific theory.

Starting off as a high school intern at Oak Crest’s summer program, I mastered important rules for working in any laboratory setting, learning general techniques such as micropipetting, autoclaving, making agar plates and media, running gel electrophoresis, and more. Then, I progressed onto taking on a volunteer internship, coming in a few times throughout the week to fulfill basic chores and necessities, while helping out various researchers with their projects. A few months later, I gained the position as a Rose Hills Research Fellow, where I got to apply the skills I had previously learned to my very own research project. I am currently still working on this project, using microscopy to scan and analyze vaginal microbiomes. In tangent with the ongoing intravaginal ring project for disease prevention at Oak Crest, this opportunity has taught me to use atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and various methods of sample preparation techniques for visualizing biological samples.
In the fall, I will be attending Cornell University as a human development major. I truly owe my success and experience to Oak Crest’s openness to giving me so many wonderful chances and opportunities. In the future, I plan on pursuing the health science field as a family doctor or through research. Oak Crest and every member of its staff have prepared me and honed my skills for being a scientist, and I continue to be inspired by every member of this community.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaime-oh/