BSURF 2020

As the program draws to a close, it feels surreal that I’ve officially entered the world of academic research. I still remember the vague fear I associated with working in a lab, and while I’m still adjusting to it, the...

Over the past few decades, many cancer-inducing mutations in the human exome have been identified, including but not limited to the BRCA1, BRCA2, and TP53 gene mutations.[1] With the recent commercialization of whole genome sequencing technologies, studies have pivoted towards...

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had the privilege of attending talks given by Duke faculty and administrators. As the sole working BSURF Fellow this year, many of our program talks were cancelled, but I was able to sit...

We’ve officially hit the midway point of the BSURF program! One thing that I’ve noticed is that time seems to flow differently when you’re sitting at home. Each day seems to pass slowly, but when looking back, it really feels...

To say that Dr. Andrew Allen’s journey in science has been a whirlwind would be an understatement.  Dr. Allen began his undergraduate career as a prospective electrical or biomedical engineer. However, in the span of one semester, he quickly realized...

Cancer, at its core, is caused by genetic changes to cells. Whether by environmental, biological, or lifestyle factors, the regions that regulate the growth and development of cells are disrupted such that the cell begins to multiply uncontrollably. With time,...