28 Research Reflection by Elijah Liu

Faculty Mentor: Sihem Boudina (Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah)

My undergraduate research has been one of the most unexpectedly meaningful parts of my education so far. Truthfully speaking, my undergraduate lab courses weren’t the best experiences, however, being in a real research lab has been completely different. It allowed me to connect the things I learned in my kinesiology and pre-med courses to real-world scientific exploration. Through my lab work, I’ve developed stronger critical thinking, problem solving and analytical skills.

Research sparked my curiosity and shown me persistence drives discovery. I remember one of my first projects I completed seemed extremely difficult, nevertheless, after perpetuous attempts and countless frustration I finally completed my data set and presented in lab meeting. These experiences strengthened my academic foundation but also shaped my future. Research to me now is an essential part of my path to becoming a physician. It has inspired me to pursue medicine with both a research’s curiosity and clinician’s compassion