Aakanksha Gundu provided an update after working in the Strahl lab as an undergraduate researcher for 2 ½ years. She offers advice for students who want to get involved in research.
How did you get involved in Research at BCBP?
Coming into Carolina, I knew I wanted to be involved in research regarding DNA and central dogma. While actively searching for research opportunities on campus, I came across the Strahl lab during my first year. I reached out to a peer that worked in the lab to find out more. After discussing the research with her, I knew this was a topic I would enjoy working on and an opportunity that would allow me to develop meaningful relationships with my mentors and apply classroom knowledge to real-life problems. I reached out to our lab manager, Jeff Jones, and expressed my interests and qualifications in an interview.
I was thrilled to get the position and working in the lab has been one of my most fulfilling experiences at UNC.
As a senior looking back on these past few years, conducting research in the Strahl Lab has been such an integral part of my undergraduate journey, and the opportunity has connected me with amazing mentors and allowed me to give back to the lab by teaching others.
What advice can you offer undergraduate students?
For students interested in getting involved in research, my advice would be to approach research with an open mind and to say yes to new opportunities. Students often explore numerous fields of study before finding their passions, and it is important to try new things. I may have never known I would enjoy the field of epigenetics if I hadn’t come across the Strahl Lab during my freshman year.
What activities do you enjoy outside the lab?
Outside of the lab, I volunteer at UNC Hospitals in the Children’s Nursing unit, and I help other students get involved in research on campus as an Ambassador for the Office for Undergraduate Research.
Additionally, I was awarded the Eve Carson Merit Scholarship in my junior year. I am dedicated to bringing STEM opportunities to underserved communities, and, to this extent, I am using a portion of my scholarship to fund STEM outreach in schools that would otherwise not have access to such programs. I have been organizing this initiative in partnership with our very own Morehead Planetarium, and it has been an amazing experience to be able to give back to my community!
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I plan on attending medical school. I look forward to exploring different specialties, and I am excited about what I will end up choosing. My undergraduate experience has not only allowed me to enjoy epigenetics research and explore the opportunities Carolina has to offer, but working in the lab has allowed me to sharpen a variety of skills, including critical thinking like a scientist, stepping into the role of a leader, reading scientific literature, and much more.
What advice can you offer undergraduate students?
For students interested in getting involved in research, my advice would be to approach research with an open mind and to say yes to new opportunities. Students often explore numerous fields of study before finding their passions, and it is important to try new things. I may have never known I would enjoy the field of epigenetics if I hadn’t come across the Strahl Lab during my freshman year.
What activities do you enjoy outside the lab?
Outside of the lab, I volunteer at UNC Hospitals in the Children’s Nursing unit, and I help other students get involved in research on campus as an Ambassador for the Office for Undergraduate Research.
Additionally, I was awarded the Eve Carson Merit Scholarship in my junior year. I am dedicated to bringing STEM opportunities to underserved communities, and, to this extent, I am using a portion of my scholarship to fund STEM outreach in schools that would otherwise not have access to such programs. I have been organizing this initiative in partnership with our very own Morehead Planetarium, and it has been an amazing experience to be able to give back to my community!
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I plan on attending medical school. I look forward to exploring different specialties, and I am excited about what I will end up choosing. My undergraduate experience has not only allowed me to enjoy epigenetics research and explore the opportunities Carolina has to offer, but working in the lab has allowed me to sharpen a variety of skills, including critical thinking like a scientist, stepping into the role of a leader, reading scientific literature, and much more.
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Aakanksha Gundu was featured in UNC’s news in Spring 2022, read more below.
How a Carolina junior found her way into the lab and how she’s giving back | UNC-Chapel Hill