A Journey of Growth: My (rocky) path to the Empower Fellowship
June 16, 2024
Hello! My name is Jason Puza, and I am a rising junior at the University of Delaware. As a biology major with a minor in medical humanities, I have a keen interest in medical research. Today, I want to share my journey to the Empower Fellowship at Fox Chase Cancer Center, a story of perseverance, growth, and determination.
Last year, I applied for the Empower Fellowship with high hopes. My application highlighted my passion for learning and my excitement for the program. Unfortunately, however, I was not accepted into the fellowship. Thanks to a meeting I set up with the program director, Dr. Amanda Purdy, I learned that while my application was great, my interview performance needed much improvement. This setback was disheartening, but it ignited a drive within me. I realized that to achieve my goals, I needed to work on my interview skills and overall presentation.
Determined to turn my rejection into a growth opportunity, I sought out various avenues to enhance my interview skills and build my confidence. I attended workshops, participated in almost a dozen interviews, and actively sought feedback from mentors and peers. Each step provided valuable learning experiences, helping me to refine my communication skills and develop a more engaging and confident demeanor. I immersed myself in research projects and volunteer work, trying to gain insights and experience to bolster my future applications.
After a year of hard work and self-improvement, I reapplied for the Empower Fellowship with renewed determination. This time, I was ready to showcase not only my academic and research capabilities but also the personal growth I had achieved. However, minutes before my interview, I became nervous. My mind went into panic mode as I realized I was about to put the past year's work to the test. When I entered the Zoom room with Dr. Purdy, Dr. Rall, and Dr. Leystra, that familiar feeling of anxiety returned to my stomach, and I worried about messing up again. This feeling was completely dissolved by a simple, eight-word sentence uttered by Dr. Purdy that she probably doesn’t even remember: "Jason, before we start, take a deep breath." When I received the acceptance email weeks later, it was a moment of immense pride and validation. My journey had come full circle, and I was ready to make the most of this incredible opportunity.
Currently, I am working in Dr. Mitchell Fane’s lab at Fox Chase Cancer Center, focusing on investigating the impact of human lung fibroblasts on the dormancy and outgrowth of cutaneous melanoma. Our research aims to understand how the metastatic microenvironment influences cancer progression, particularly studying the interactions between cancer cells and fibroblasts, which play a crucial role in the tumor microenvironment. My mentor, Jhon Pasamonte, has been incredibly supportive, guiding me through various lab techniques and ensuring I understand the significance of our research. So far, my experience at Fox Chase has been genuinely impactful. The rigorous schedule and hands-on learning have pushed me out of my comfort zone, but the supportive community here has made all the difference. The knowledge and skills I'm gaining here are invaluable, and I can't wait to see what the rest of the program has in store!
Troubleshooting and first results!
July 14, 2024
The last few weeks as an Empower Fellow at Fox Chase Cancer Center have been a whirlwind of learning and growth. Lab work has been both exhilarating and challenging. There were moments when I felt overwhelmed, especially when I messed up our protocol for growing extracellular matrices (ECMs), resulting in poor fibroblastic ECMs. However, after persistent troubleshooting and a bit of luck, I finally produced quality ECMs and am excited to analyze them soon!
Mastering various protocols and techniques has been one of the toughest parts of this journey. Early on, I made several mistakes with media preparation, which set back our experiments and caused a lot of frustration. Growing ECMs was particularly tricky, and I found myself repeatedly producing poor results. Each mistake felt like a setback, but it also provided invaluable learning opportunities. With each error, I gained a deeper understanding of the process and the precision required in lab work. Eventually, my efforts paid off, and we began to see promising results. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of perseverance and attention to detail in scientific research.
Running a Western blot was one of the highlights of my experience. Seeing the results was incredibly rewarding and reminded me why I embarked on this journey. My supportive lab team has been instrumental in these successes, offering guidance and encouragement every step of the way. Beyond the lab, bonding with my labmates has made this experience even more special. We've shared meals, stories, and experiences that have helped me feel like a true part of the team. Whether it's celebrating small victories or simply unwinding after a long day, these outings have strengthened our camaraderie. Being the only guy in this program, I was worried about feeling lonely, but the sense of belonging and support from my lab team and fellows has been incredible.
Reflecting on these past few weeks, I'm filled with a sense of accomplishment and excitement for what's to come. The challenges I've faced and the support I've received have enhanced my technical skills and deepened my appreciation for the collaborative nature of scientific research. I'm eager to continue learning, contributing to our projects, and discovering what's next. This journey has shown me the power of resilience, teamwork, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge.
Final Goodbye and Presentation
August 26, 2024
Wrapping up the 2024 Empower Fellowship program was a deeply bittersweet experience for me. Leaving a week earlier than the rest of the fellows due to another training back in Delaware added an unexpected layer of sadness to my departure. I had formed meaningful connections with the other fellows and my lab team, making it harder to say goodbye sooner than I expected. The final weeks of the program were intense, as nine weeks of dedicated research culminated in a whirlwind of pressure and uncertainty. We were racing against the clock to gather our final data, and the frustration of potentially leaving things unfinished weighed heavily on me. There was a part of me that wished I could stay just a little longer to see everything through, but time wasn’t on my side. That being said, I still got more than enough data to make a 10-minute presentation difficult. Amid the challenges, I was grappling with my anxiety about the upcoming symposium presentation. Public speaking has always been a significant hurdle for me, and the thought of standing in front of an audience to share my work filled me with nerves. I was excited about the progress I had made and eager to showcase what I’d learned, but that excitement was overshadowed by my apprehension. Would I be able to convey the importance of my research clearly? Would my nerves get the best of me? These questions lingered in my mind as the final days approached, making it difficult to focus on anything else. However, when I arrived at the cancer center on the day of the presentation, the atmosphere felt welcoming and inviting, not at all like something to be feared. Seeing everyone’s families there, including my own, brought a sense of comfort and pride.
As my presentation time crept closer, I could feel those familiar nerves tightening in my chest,
much like they had before my second interview. It was a mix of anxiety and self-doubt that seemed to grow with each passing minute. Thankfully, Dr. Purdy, ever perceptive, noticed the tension in my posture and the unease in my expression. She suggested I take a few deep breaths; I followed her advice, hoping the simple act might chase away the butterflies in my stomach. While I’d love to say that those deep breaths were a magical cure-all for my anxiety, the reality was more complicated. The challenge ahead felt monumental – standing before some of the smartest, most accomplished people I knew, people whose knowledge and experience far surpassed my own, and trying to teach them something about a subject I was still in the process of understanding myself. It was daunting, to say the least. The questions that had been plaguing me for days resurfaced with renewed intensity: Would I be able to clearly convey the significance of my research? Would my words stumble out awkwardly, betraying my nerves? Could I keep my nervousness in check long enough to make it through the presentation? As I finally stood at the front of the room, I did my best to focus on the task at hand, though the fear of faltering lingered just beneath the surface. I pushed forward, determined to share the work I had poured so much of myself into. In the end, I don’t remember much of the presentation itself—it's a blur of slides, words, and faces—but when it was over, I was told I had done a good job. Hearing that was more than just a relief; it was a validation of all the effort and anxiety that had led up to that moment. Even though I couldn’t recall the specifics, knowing that I had managed to hold my own in such an intimidating setting felt like a victory in itself.
Being an Empower fellow was truly that—empowering. When I first started, I was filled with skepticism, unsure if I would be able to contribute meaningfully or even get any substantial work done in such a short time. The challenges ahead seemed intimidating, and I wondered if I was up to the task. But as the weeks passed, I found myself growing not just in knowledge, but in confidence and resilience. The experience pushed me to my limits in the best possible way, allowing me to overcome doubts I didn’t even realize I had. One of the most rewarding aspects was the connections I made along the way. My fellow participants and I formed a tight-knit community, supporting each other through the ups and downs of our research. These bonds turned what could have been a solitary journey into a shared adventure, filled with collaboration, encouragement, and a sense of belonging. By the end of the program, I was beyond grateful for the opportunity to be part of something so transformative. It wasn’t just about the research or the skills I gained—it was about discovering my own potential and realizing that I could rise to the occasion, no matter how daunting it might seem, all while building lasting friendships and professional relationships that I’ll cherish for years to come.