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Alyssa's Passion Project

Alyssa's Passion Project

Science, Engineering & Technology

Medicine / Health

Start Date

May 2025

End Date

Ongoing

Sessions Completed

11 sessions

Assets

<div class="assets-links"><a class="assets-link" href="https://ucarecdn.com/c866b47c-7124-448e-ab1a-a44a4c9185eb/"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/605190260cb9b4c3a9de71c8/680115d2ef2b7533efbc7b88_Frame.svg"><div class="inter-400">Alyssa's Literature Review</div></a><a class="assets-link" href="https://ucarecdn.com/5a2e7b30-0529-4224-823c-ec0532f657fc/"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/605190260cb9b4c3a9de71c8/680115d2ef2b7533efbc7b88_Frame.svg"><div class="inter-400">Alyssa's Article Summaries</div></a><a class="assets-link" href="https://ucarecdn.com/f958a571-86e5-4740-a040-5c167e0d931a/"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/605190260cb9b4c3a9de71c8/680115d2ef2b7533efbc7b88_Frame.svg"><div class="inter-400">Alyssa's Literature Review Paper</div></a><a class="assets-link" href="https://ucarecdn.com/742275fe-5f60-448d-ac90-f8a1a7223f09/"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/605190260cb9b4c3a9de71c8/680115d2ef2b7533efbc7b88_Frame.svg"><div class="inter-400">My Literature Review</div></a><a class="assets-link" href="https://ucarecdn.com/d36a8120-b849-46f1-af49-247f97011332/"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/605190260cb9b4c3a9de71c8/680115d2ef2b7533efbc7b88_Frame.svg"><div class="inter-400">Spreadsheet of articles researched</div></a><a class="assets-link" href="https://ucarecdn.com/27beb6bc-9067-41e7-aa80-10a586752fd9/"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/605190260cb9b4c3a9de71c8/680115d2ef2b7533efbc7b88_Frame.svg"><div class="inter-400">Spreadsheet of articles</div></a></div>

Gallery

Student & Mentor

Student

<div class="student-mentor-item-div-top-info"><div class="inter-700 _20">Alyssa</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align">High School Student</div></div>

Personality
Interests
Mentor

<div class="student-mentor-item-div-top-info"><div class="inter-700 _20">Ashley Seong</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align">Brown University</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align">Neuroscience</div></div>

Personality

<div class="student-mentor-item-div-tags-wrapp"><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Supportive</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Creative</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Organized</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-light-yellow"><p class="inter-400 _16">Engaging</p></div></div>

Interests

<div class="student-mentor-item-div-tags-wrapp"><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Neuroscience</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Research Methodology</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Community Engagement</p></div><div class="case-study-pill bg-white"><p class="inter-400 _16">Education</p></div></div>

What They Set Out To Do

Alyssa was an ambitious student with a strong interest in biology and medicine, seeking guidance on creating her own research paper that aimed to address a specific biology based disease. She needed support in developing her research ideas and enhancing her leadership skills to make a meaningful impact. With a passion for science, she was eager to learn from a mentor who could provide both academic and practical insights into the medical field.

The Perfect Match

<div class="case-study-match-wrapper"><div class="match-item"><div class="apercu-mono-pro-700 _20">Passion for Medicine</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align text-black-80">Ashley's background in neuroscience and passion for community engagement made her the perfect mentor for Alyssa's medical research journey.</div></div><div class="match-item"><div class="apercu-mono-pro-700 _20">Research Expertise</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align text-black-80">Ashley's extensive research experience in health topics provided Alyssa with the guidance needed to navigate her project effectively.</div></div><div class="match-item"><div class="apercu-mono-pro-700 _20">Creative Teaching Approach</div><div class="inter-400 _16 left-align text-black-80">Ashley's innovative methods in teaching science inspired Alyssa to think critically and creatively about her research.</div></div></div>

Project Milestones

Research Analysis Framework Created
May 2025
Developed a systematic approach to analyze research papers using a customized spreadsheet template for documenting key takeaways, quotes, and critical evaluation of academic literature.
Research Project Initiation
May 2025
Established a structured 15-week research project focused on cancer literature review, with clearly defined SMART goals and timeline for producing a publishable article.
Article Analysis Completion
May 2025
Successfully analyzed multiple research articles on cancer topics, identifying key points and evaluating strengths and gaps in the literature, demonstrating critical reading skills.
Research Synthesis Progress
May 2025
Transformed discrete research notes into cohesive paragraphs with logical flow, demonstrating the ability to synthesize information across multiple academic sources.
Literature Review Structure Development
June 2025
Organized research articles into thematic groups and created a comprehensive structure for the literature review paper, including introduction, themed body sections, and conclusion.
Literature Review Focus Established
June 2025
Developed a focused research question examining how exposure to mycovirus-containing Aspergillus flavus contributes to transcriptional dysregulation and potential leukemia development.
Competition Research Completed
June 2025
Evaluated multiple science competitions suitable for a literature review on leukemia, identifying the High School Academic Research Competition as a preferred option that aligns with the research format and goals.
Literature Review Body Section 2 Completion
June 2025
Completed the second body section of the leukemia literature review, successfully incorporating topic focus, data integration, and comparative analysis of multiple studies.
Publication Opportunities Identified
July 2025
Identified four promising publication venues (Journal of Emerging Investigators, STEM Fellowship Journal, National High School Journal of Science, and AI Jam) that align with the research goals and requirements for the leukemia paper.

Skills Developed

  • Research Paper Writing
  • Project Planning
  • Leadership Skills
  • Public Speaking
  • Critical Thinking

Challenged Overcomed

  • Navigating complex research methodologies
  • Balancing project deadlines with personal commitments
  • Improving presentation skills for competitions
  • Refining academic writing techniques

What’s Next

Alyssa is currently refining her research paper and preparing for a pitch competition. With Ashley's mentorship, she aims to complete her project and gain recognition for her contributions to community health. Looking ahead, Alyssa plans to submit her research for publication and continue developing her leadership skills through further projects.

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