Zooming in on Zoey Olson Brown ’25 at Vitalant Research Institute

Describe what you’re doing this summer in your internship.

I am working at Vitalant Research Institute in San Francisco, CA as an intern. I am working in Dr. Satish Pillai’s lab and I am shadowing Dr. Mohamed Bouzidi. Specifically I am working on a project with Dr. Bouzidi in which we are trying to determine the effects of methylation on the HIV genome. At the beginning of my internship, I completed tasks such as splitting cells and watching my post-doc do the more complicated things. I’ve progressed to doing additional lab work like western blots (so many western blots), working with bacteria, protein extractions, etc.  

How did Oberlin shape or influence you to pursue this internship?

I gained an interest in more small-scale biology through my molecular biology and genomics classes at Oberlin. I enjoyed Professor Goldman’s genomics course.  

How does pursuing this internship align with your post-college life and career goals? 

I am interested in pursuing a career in research, but haven’t been able to participate in a professor's lab at Oberlin. This internship allows me to see what the typical day in a molecular biology-focused research lab is like and if it is something I would like to pursue after college. Also, this internship allows me to gain research experience and learn how to carry out experimental techniques that I have read about in my classes, but have never done before. 

How has the liberal arts education and way of thinking shaped how you approach science and research?

I try not to focus too much on the “hard science” of what I’m doing, and try to think how this relates to the real world, which may be the result of liberal arts education. In this internship, a lot of what we’re doing is in relation to the HIV virus, so I try to think about the social impact of HIV as well (e.g., how HIV is characterized, where are the current hotspots, and where HIV still progresses into full blown AIDS). Also, I don’t want to think with a “science brain” because I feel like only focusing on the procedures and what's directly in the textbook can limit one's thinking.

If you're interested in a summer internship, connect with the Career Exploration & Development team to learn more about exploring career interests, gaining real-world experience, and developing a professional network.