Name: Elizabeth Buckley ’18
Organization: Brigham and Women’s hospital for the Genomes2People Research Program
What were you up to this past summer?
This past summer I am interned at Brigham and Women’s hospital for the Genomes2People Research Program. Genomes2People is a group that performs various clinical trial projects based around the risks and benefits that sequencing genomes for risk of illness will have on people. The project I have been working most closely with is the BabySeq Project. Genome sequencing is used to show the risk of various illnesses that a baby may have up to adulthood. The risks and benefits of knowing this uncertain information is studied among parents and pediatricians to better understand whether widespread genome sequencing should be used in the near future, for purposes such as personalized medicine.
I helped the research assistants with various tasks, such as updating online patient databases as well as editing and revising consent forms that are subsequently sent to be reviewed before being approved for use in the trial.
What was your favorite part?
I really enjoyed the opportunity to work in a job based around biology and academia. It has definitely opened my eyes to the type of work I can expect post graduation if I enter this field. I have also been able to decide whether working in a clinical trial program is what I would like to do in the future. There are many different jobs available in the lab setting, such as genetic counselor, research assistant, etc. I have been able to observe and help with various projects in each of these departments.
What surprised you?
I was surprised when I started working here that clinical research is so different from research in an actual lab. The group is small and everyone works in the same office space so everyone contributes to each overall project. Overall, I had a great experience with G2P and enjoyed the opportunity to experience working on such an interesting project and topic.
