Intern Stories

Angela Lin

"Interning under the STaRS program has truly changed my life. Unlike other programs that are lecture-based, the STaRS internship provides its interns with real hands-on research experience. I remember being worried that I would only learn about a skill but not perform it; however, by the third week, our mentors already trusted us to perform immunohistochemistry for current research projects. The Helms Lab is filled with supportive mentors who genuinely want to see you succeed. Not only do the mentors teach you seven foundational skills in biomedical research; there are also college success lectures with tips and advice for the college application process. My absolute favorite part of the program is meeting like-minded people from around the country. Everyone has something unique to contribute, and you will learn so much from them. I am still very close with everyone from my cohort! I started the program with zero research experience and graduated with confidence in my future. My experience at STaRS has paved the way for my career as a medical professional, even helping me secure a full scholarship to a medical program at Columbia University this coming summer. All you need to bring to the lab is your curiosity and drive; the program will help with the rest. Get ready to have the most memorable summer of your life!"

Adib Rabbani

"I really loved the experience. It taught me how to present the findings of scientific articles and improved my confidence to seek out other research opportunities. It was also wonderful spending time on the beautiful campus. One of the most amazing aspects was the friends I made. We are still in touch almost every day. It was very hard saying goodbye at the end of the program."  

Aysel Ogul

"Having the opportunity to work at the Helms Lab is a really unique and valuable experience. I learned so much from different people, including Professor Helms, all the mentors and other interns. I learned what “research” actually is and it encouraged me to continue being involved in research."  

Betul Serra Tulu

"The Helms Lab has multifacetedly impacted my outlook on the scientific field and its relevance to our everyday life. The interactive nature of the STaRS program made it so that aside from learning scientific knowledge/theory, I learned critical lab and communication skills as I worked to apply the knowledge firsthand. Throughout the internship, I have created incredible bonds with peers and mentors. The spirit of exploration, resilience, and teamwork has vitalized my passion for science. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to learn and grow, and I will forever cherish the memories I have created."

Clara Quintana Llobet

"During the internship I had the opportunity to meet incredible people and also acquire plenty of new knowledge and lab skills. It was great understanding how a lab works and contributing to real research projects. I loved working with all of the extremely hard-working, passionate, motivated and curious individuals in the Helms lab. I can’t be grateful enough for everyone I met, people who were so kind and gave me memories I will never forget."  

Fiona Romanoschi

"I am incredibly grateful to have interned under the STaRS program, providing a life-changing mentorship experience full of research, learning, experimentation, community, and fun. Dr. Helms taught me much about academic presentation and continued passion, inspiring me through her story to pursue my dream career. Fabiana and Dr. Bo were wonderful mentors, assisting with complex processes in the lab and advising me on professional development throughout the program. The Stanford undergraduates who were part of the Helms Lab created a vibrant, constructive community, providing the peer network interns needed for their first prolonged time away from home post-pandemic. Though I entered with a relatively low knowledge of regenerative medicine, I was able to grow tremendously and provide relevant work over an ongoing project. Going forward into college and beyond, this experience has positively shaped my aspirations and encouraged me to give back / mentor in a similar capacity as the Helms Lab guided me."

Fleur Bellec

"Participating in the STaRS program was life changing for me. I had never been in a research lab before then but as soon as I arrived, the mentors and my teammates introduced me to the different techniques, and I was quickly able to understand them. What I found incredible in this experience was that everyone had a special skill to share, that made the team stronger and allowed each project to be concluded. I started this experience knowing that I had a lot to learn from the mentors and my teammates, but that I also had a real value to share with them: they taught me how to use 3D modeling softwares to help me in my project and I shared with them my knowledge in anatomy and embryology. I really liked this cooperation with the mentors and Pr. Jill Helms, who was really concerned about implicating us in the different projects and making us develop fundamental research critical thinking and technical skills. Thanks to this experience in the Helm’s lab, I was able to strengthen my scientific thinking and knowledge, that will be a real help in my medical curriculum."  

Jonathan Joseph

"At the beginning of the summer, I wasn’t sure about my ability to perform tasks well in a lab setting. However, during the STaRS internship, I picked up so many skills from the lectures and hands-on experience, that I can now confidently work in a lab setting comfortably. There's also something for everyone in the lab. This past summer, I was able to use different software such as CT Analyzer, Avizo, and Drishti. Learning this software was super fun for me, as I definitely love working with computers. However, the best part of the internship was meeting like-minded people from around the world!"  

Lauren Menke

"They say all good things are worth waiting for, and that couldn't be more true about my experience with STaRS! I learned so many skills in the laboratory such as how to section and stain tissues which I am sure will be applicable in my future career in science. However, I am just as likely to remember getting to know the other interns and the mentors through fun activities like a baseball game and a cookout. My summer spent with STaRS really showed me what it means to learn, grow, and have fun all at the same time."  

Romanée Kobelt

"STaRS allowed me to envision myself in a professional lab setting and deepened my love for medical technology in an indescribable way. Working side-by-side with experienced mentors allowed me to challenge, inspire and guide me on my first steps toward a career in biomedical research. I will cherish these seven weeks and the friends and mentors I made along the way! Greetings from Switzerland :)"

Hannah Wagster

"This past summer was truly a rewarding experience working alongside some of the most brilliant researchers and other interns. I learned valuable hands-on lessons in the lab and was able to apply myself academically in ways I thought I never could. By the end of the summer, I had gained better communication skills and confidence with the help of my mentors. I had a great experience meeting new people from all over the world and will treasure every memory made this past summer."

Ella Dauskardt

"Working in Helms Lab this summer not only taught me a myriad of laboratory and scientific information, but also taught me how to think critically, ask questions, and better collaborate with others. I will never forget the memories made working with such like-minded and devoted individuals, and can't thank all of the mentors enough, who have truly exposed me to a new outlook on scientific research. During this time, I profoundly grew as a young inquisitive scientist, and also grew as an individual; developing novel and innovative perspectives from the individuals working beside me. I am so excited to further my career in science, and more inspired than ever thanks to the STaRS internship. It was a summer I will never forget."

Paulina De la Garza

"Anyone that is reading this and considering applying to this internship, please do! When I applied, I had zero research experience and no connections to scientists, but after this summer I have gained so many valuable skills, including lab techniques and interpersonal skills, and amazing friendships with my fellow interns and mentors. The Helms lab has an amazing team of researchers trying to help other students that are passionate and perseverant, and the projects they have going on are super interesting and of high quality. Thanks to this opportunity and Dr. Helms, I got two research jobs right after the internship ended, which I never thought would be possible for me as a Mexican woman. This is truly the type of opportunity that opens doors for you."

Joshua Park

"Initially, I was concerned about taking this internship online. I thought that instead of experiencing research, we would be studying anatomy online. After the first week, my opinion dramatically changed when we were exposed to case studies, devising experimental plans, and different experimental devices available to further our understanding of biomedical and bio-engineering research. The highlight of the internship for me would be the exciting ways that Jill would test us on our knowledge about anatomy. From jeopardy to case studies, Jill was able to challenge our knowledge in new intuitive ways that I would definitively prefer over daunting tests."  

Emily Cheng

"I was really excited to hear that the internship would still be taking place, as I was worried that it would be cancelled at first. During this internship, I learned how to do virtual research and how to efficiently read several research papers at a time and effectively understand the key points of each paper. I also sharpened my interpersonal skills when working with different groups of people and making sure everyone's ideas were heard in our presentations. The highlight of the internship was presenting the final few presentations with my group. I was so happy and proud to see all of our hard work cumulate in a very successful presentation with minimal Wi-Fi interruptions, and we all cheered each other on via Slack when we were done presenting. It was in that moment that I realized the meaning of the cliche 'teamwork makes the dream work!' "

Cameron Gilmore

"The opportunity to work with a group of students who are as focused, driven, and passionate as me about our project was refreshing. When our group met for the first time, members came with research completed, topics to be discussed, and questions for one another. The pre-work was completely unprompted - we all dove into the topic, not because we were instructed to, but because it fascinated us. Our project quickly transformed from an idea to a concrete plan. The level of energy from my teammates was unique from any group work I've done before."

Neel Trivedi

"I was confused on how we were going to study osteonecrosis without any lab techniques but I was surprised on how much I actually learned about the disease and lab techniques without actually going to a lab. I definitely have refined my scientific thinking and experimental skills. By trying to critically think, I rapidly grew my knowledge of lab techniques, experimental disease, and science in general. The highlight of the internship has definitely been working with my group. I had a great experience working with them and we became truly great friends after just two weeks of working together."

Cerina Pang

"It has been such a great and knowledgeable experience to see other interns come together globally, overcome the difficulties involved with a virtual internship, and yet still be able to learn about the advancements in the field of regenerative medicine. Over these past few weeks, this internship has sharpened my presenting skills. We have research assignments where we have to present to our peers and mentors, which has gradually made me more comfortable in presenting to others and has also given me insight into how I can make an effective presentation. Additionally, as someone who prefers to work individually, this internship has made me value teamwork because most of our assignments are solely based on being able to work in groups. This has taught me how to respectfully listen to others, synthesizing ideas we may have, and being able to come to a consensus with the whole team."

Ishil Kukreja

"I was nervous in the beginning because I was unsure of my abilities and if I would be able to perform well in the internship. For most of my life I have been very scared to talk or present in front of a large number of people. Having to present so often during this internship really helped me become a better public speaker. I loved all the amazing guest speakers as well, as Dr. Stoddart showed me that your goals can be achieved with hard work even if you come from a rough background."

Ryan Ma

"Although the internship was online, I felt like the internship was still engaging and pushed interns to learn quickly, think outside the box, and collaborate in unique ways. During the internship, I have improved upon my ability to ask questions of both myself and others as we researched and learned more about Osteonecrosis of the jaw. Through this, I now listen to presentations and analyze each detail to see the pros and cons of proposed ideas, and am not afraid to raise these questions to presenters at the end of their presentations. The highlight of the internship has been getting to meet interns and working alongside them to gain a deeper understanding of real world problems that are observed in the medical field today."

Fawzaan Hashmi

"During the internship, I feel as if I have sharpened my teamwork skills. I loved all the amazing presentations from distinguished scientists, and one valuable lesson I learned is to establish a team charter when working with a group."

Angeline Xu

"This internship really sharpened my communication skills. I'm actually happy with the number of presentations we are required to put together and present during this internship because it has not only helped me apply the knowledge I've learned, but it also made me more comfortable with speaking out. No matter what field one is in, communication is so important, and from what I've observed, one of the things that set those who succeed apart because they are the ones who are able to get their ideas across. One of the highlights of this internship for me is being able to be surrounded in such a supportive environment. The mentors genuinely care about the interns. They are approachable and make the internship feel like a safe place to learn where there is no judgment. They are so invested, and you can tell how much of their heart they have put into this internship. I'm really grateful for them and how much they have taught me. Not only the mentors but the interns also. It has been really fun working with different groups. People are competitive; however, it's not in a toxic way but because they want to do the best that they know they can do personally. Everyone is so nice and enthusiastic about learning that you can't help but to feel excited yourself. In short, the highlight of this internship is the people."

Cynthia Ngo

"After countless group presentations, I can definitely say that STaRS has completely changed the way I present to an audience. Before coming into STaRS, I was fairly nervous when presenting. Even though all of the presentations were conducted in an online format, I believe the tips and the experience I gained will improve my presentations in person as well. STaRS has taught me the significance of teamwork. One person can only accomplish so much. By acting and working as a team, the overall project/presentation will be better as everyone's ideas and perspectives are considered and incorporated."

Isa Matsubayashi

"During the internship, I really enjoyed the presentation we did in our big groups on osteonecrosis (my group's topic was on surgery). I applied for this internship partly because I am really interested in surgery, and I got the exposure that I wanted. Not only that, but working in big groups was fun and productive. I personally think I did a pretty good job on the presentation (probably the peak of my short presentation career) which definitely helped boost my confidence. If I have changed in anyway from three weeks ago, it would probably be that I am now a more patient person. To be completely honest, the internship so far hasn't been a smooth sail for me and it has definitely tested many facets of my patience; I have gotten frustrated with my time zone difference, remembering all the muscles of the face, facing long, difficult medical terms in papers, getting flustered in a presentation, and so on... But in facing these obstacles, I have gotten just a small taste of what it is like to study medicine, and hopefully have become a stronger person."

Jack Maurry

"At first I was disappointed about not being able to come into the lab, but as summer grew closer I saw my friends all scrambling to find something to do over the summer. I was excited that the program was still going, but didn't know how they were going to approach the problem that working online brought. Nevertheless, I learned to be more organized and collaborate with teammates better. Normally when I do a group project I have weeks or even months to complete it, but this program moved at a speed where I was only allotted a day or two to connect with my team and finish the project. Moreover, I was able to hone my problem solving and critical thinking skills by learning how to apply the anatomy I memorized with my new knowledge on ONJ to help solve the problems at hand and make mental connections. I feel like I have become a better communicator and problem solver by working in teams from all the around the world, and having to find times to work together despite the time differences and short time span to finish projects. I've also become more skeptical of some avenues of medicine from learning how most drugs only treat a disease at the cost of an increased risk of another, as well as how difficult the process of creating an effective drug is."

Ramya Chitturi

"Coming into the internship, I realized that I did not have much previous exposure to the field of regenerative medicine (with the exception of a couple of articles that I had read in the news). I was a little nervous since I had never been exposed to this kind of information at school before, but I was also very excited that I would have the chance to learn more about a new field of study! I was able how to distinguish credible sources from unreliable sources on the internet and how to make an effective presentation and engage your audience (even if you are not presenting in person). I have not had much prior experience with academic/scientific presentations, but I have been able to improve this skill over the course of the program. The highlight of my internship was the engineer guest speakers. I have always been interested in both engineering/computer science and biology, but I never realized how much overlap there is between the two fields. Based on their presentations, I feel motivated to explore this intersection of technology and medicine more in the future."

Dhruvi Desai

"During this internship, I have been able to increase my analytical thinking skills, and I have become more inquisitive. It has taught me the importance of finding accurate and reliable information to support my claims. I have also increased my knowledge of subjects including regenerative medicine, head and neck anatomy, and bioengineering. I have learned how it is important to understand the limitations of developing technologies in addition to their possibilities. This can help in assessing the reliability of information I find online."

Lucile Zhu

"At first glance, I was hesitant about the idea of moving the internship online because the internship was lab-based and I was not sure how that could occur online. In addition, I was slightly intimidated by the complicated diseases and anatomical terms, but I was still excited to learn more and meet new people. This internship has improved my presentation skills by a large scale because of the assignments given almost every session. This includes the actual talking and the creation of the power points. I saw a significant improvement in my ability to work in groups because I learned how to schedule meetings based on my group members' personal schedules and differing time zones. Furthermore, I refined my self-learning skill a lot. Studying anatomy and doing the assignments from every session have taught me how to supplement the given material and my prior knowledge with further research."

Priyanka Sanghrajka

"My experience participating in the STaRS internship program has been life changing. Even through an online platform, this program allowed me to gain a great deal of knowledge about biomedicine and research. I was blown away at the amount of effort that was put into making the experience the most time, and resource effective, as everyone collaborated to overcome the barrier of not being in the lab in person. The skills that I have gained have nurtured my passion for science, and are those that will support me in my future endeavors. The highlight of the internship for me were the guest speakers. I am fascinated by any and all fields of science, and I was extremely grateful to learn from experts from different backgrounds and a broad variety of specialties from all over the world, demonstrating to me just how interconnected medicine is."

Christelle Millos-Lopez

"STaRS was an eye-opening and life-changing experience for me. Despite having been online, all of our mentors truly did their best to teach us about regenerative medicine during our 5 weeks together. I came into the internship with little-to-no knowledge on what regenerative medicine is and how it works, but through the help of wonderful mentors, guest speakers, and my peers, I was able to change that. STaRS pushed me like never before: I had to learn college-level anatomy, bone biomechanics, and the bone formation process in a really short period of time and create well thought out presentations every other day. Nevertheless, I never felt incapable because of the incredible amount of teamwork from my peers and guidance from our mentors. Thanks to STaRS, it is now my goal to pursue a career in the field of regenerative medicine after college."

Esther Song

"I have definitely sharpened my skill of working fast while still coming up with a good product. I have never pumped out so many presentations in the same week as I have during this internship, so I found myself in constant communication with my team, helping my communication skills, and using our meeting times as productively as possible, helping me with better prioritization of assignments. The highlight of the internship for me so far has been being able to work and meet people from all over the world. It was exciting to figure out which team you were going to be in each week, and at the same time, this was a great opportunity to meet and share with most interns that one may have not gotten a chance to talk to before. I have personally really enjoyed all of my teams, especially my first team who made it easy for me to be myself."

Hannah Kim

"Over the past few weeks, I’ve studied the anatomy of the head and neck while learning various skills necessary for doctors. For instance, I have become more used to analyzing X-rays, and I’ve learned how and what to look at when examining a patient’s mouth. I’ve really enjoyed meeting with some of the guest speakers. The nice thing about being online is that we can get surgeons from places like Europe in Asia to talk to us about their line of work and specialties. It’s been such a surreal experience hearing from them and learning how they look at patients and evaluate them."

Phillip Baek

"When I heard about the program moving online, I was glad that even through times of hardships, people like Jill that really cared about students' learning pushed through to adapt to the new situation. As a returning member, I was glad to have been able to help a program that meant a lot to me since last year. Although leading a group of people to complete a certain project wasn't necessarily new, having to do it virtually was a very new experience for me (and everyone else). And before, I used to be more of that "we have a good plan, now let's wing it" style, but due to these circumstances, it seemed more appropriate to plan meetings ahead of time and be more organized, which seemed to work better. Even though hands on lab experience was not part of the online program, learning how to communicate and work effectively as a group was what made this internship really helpful to my career. All in all, other than knowledge of osteonecrosis and biphosphonates, I think I really got to experience and see that hard work, no matter your ethnic, financial or social background, leads to great results."

Joseph Grauer

"One of the last lectures of my “intro to perio” course in first-year dental school, we learned about wound healing and regenerative procedures: reader, I was hooked. I wasted no time in searching for a lab where I could pursue this newfound interest, and Prof. Jill Helms' lab came up in my searches. After emailing, she enthusiastically offered me a seat in her lab, and I got to work exploring the role of stem cells in maintaining the junctional epithelium in health and injury. During this time, I had my first exposure to surgical procedures performed on rodent models: I assisted with bone grafts and implant placements. This spurred my interest in pursuing periodontology as a specialty and allowed me to gain first-hand experience with participating in cutting-edge research in the field. Joining her lab that summer felt like a stroke of incredible luck, and it has profoundly shaped my career aspirations. Furthermore, Prof. Helms has been instrumental in helping me cultivate the ability to thoughtfully develop new research questions and critically analyze existing literature. More recently, she served as my Master's advisor during Periodontics training, even years after my first summer in her lab. Since then, I have now completed my training in periodontics and plan to work at the intersection of research, teaching, and clinical practice, and I truly cannot thank Prof. Helms enough for unwavering dedication to mentorship."  

Olivia Colace, 17

"I had a blast interning in the Helms Lab. I learned invaluable lab skills, connected with phenomenal peers and mentors, and realized that true professionalism is the willingness to learn constantly, no matter the subject, technical or frivolous. STaRS was the perfect introduction to research and a future career in medicine."

Zara Malik, 18

"STaRS was an incredible experience where I not only learned so much but I made amazing friends and a wonderful network of mentors! I hope I can come back to the Helms Lab in the future. Special shoutout to Igor, Meagan, Yasemin and of course Jill for a great internship experience!"

Jose Vasquez, 19

"The internship motivated me to pursue an MD/Ph.D. I look forward to the upcoming challenges and aim to one day contribute to our ever-growing body of scientific knowledge."

Janani Balaji, 18

"I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to work in the Helms lab. This incredible experience helped further my interest in medical technology, and I will forever cherish the memories I have made here."

Margaux Kobelt

"The Helm’s lab has pushed me towards my dream career in a way no other experience has. I am so grateful for the memories, knowledge and skills that I was able to acquire. I will cherish this experience and the lifelong friends and mentors I made during this internship!"

Claudia Ren

"I feel so lucky and appreciative to have joined STaRS as a part of my college experience. The spirit of collaboration, curiosity, and dedication that I learned from this program has prepared me well for my next steps in science."

Arush Joshi

"Through the STaRS program, I’ve been able to further my interest in medicine by learning how to synthesize information and apply it to laboratory experiments. Over the past 2 years, I’ve also connected and formed friendships with my hardworking peers and the inspiring mentors."

Phillip Baek

"The STaRS internship program was literally one of the best things that happened in my life. The mentors are extremely dedicated to giving us the real experience of research, and I've been so lucky to have participated in the entire research process. Not only that, the program invites students from around the world, and we got to bond and do so many fun things even after the normal lab days.”

Ryan, 17, Homestead High School

"Participating in the STaRS internship has opened up new horizons for me and deepened my love for science in an indescribable way. I have been able to connect knowledge from the classroom to real life experiments in the laboratory and have realized the impact that research has on the surrounding world to make it a better place for mankind to live in."

Vanessa, 17, Notre Dame High School

 "The STaRS Internship allowed me to immerse myself in a professional lab setting and start my journey towards a career in science. I was inspired by the people at the lab and the innovative research being done."

Salma, 18, UC Davis

 “The Helms Lab and the time I have spent here have set me on the path towards my dream career goals and pushed me forward in a way no other experience has.” 

Chianna, 20, UC Santa Cruz

"This internship allowed me to meet so many wonderful friends and lifelong mentors. It has opened my mind to so many different career opportunities. I feel fully supported in my future career endeavors!"

Shannon, 21, USC

 "I am so grateful for the Helms Lab for giving me the opportunity to rediscover my passion in science and for providing me the space to learn from amazing mentors and fellow interns. Not only did I learn technical lab skills, but I also learned skills that will help me become a better leader and that will help me achieve my goals and my dream career in healthcare."

Savannah, 20, Stanford

 "I’m extremely grateful that I was given the opportunity to work in the Helm’s lab because I never had the chance to engage in research prior to this. It really confirmed to me why I love science and gave me the absolute confidence to steadfastly pursue a medical career."

Sofya, 21, San Mateo Community College District

 "The STaRS program opened my eyes to the world of research, and the skills and knowledge that I gained from working with such an amazing group of people will support me in achieving my goals."

Nora, 17, Homestead High School

 "I have learned so much at Dr. Helm's lab and my experience here has greatly expanded my interest in medicine. The incredible doctors I got to work along side with and the amazing interns I have met through this program will be something I will cherish forever."

Jessica 16, Evergreen Valley High School

 "Spending my summer at Helms Lab was an eye opening experience that has encouraged me to pursue a future in science."

Addis 19, UC Santa Cruz

"It was such an honor being able to come back and work at the Helms lab. Being surrounded by such distinguished, intellectuals really inspired me and invigorated my passion to pursue science."

Kavita, 21, UCLA 

"My experience at the Helms lab has helped me discover my strengths and has given me the confidence to pursue a career in science. The researchers here are so inspiring and I am grateful to have had this opportunity to work with them."

Rachel, 17, Leigh HS

 "The STaRS internship prompted me to think about the sheer power and relevance of science in my life. The 7 weeks — and counting — at the Helms Lab has endowed me with lessons in patience, resilience, and collaboration that I have not encountered before."

Alicia, 16, Lynbrook HS

"The people I've met and the memories I've made here remind me daily of how deep and wonderful science is. It's been truly amazing to practice the perseverance, creativity, and love for exploration that research demands of one here at the Helms lab."

Tram, 16, Carlmont HS

"Having the experience of working at the Helms Lab was a great opportunity that helped me take a step to achieve my dreams."

Bengisu, 17, Adrian Wilcox HS | Anita, 17, Homestead HS

"The Helms Lab was a great working environment with all kind of students. As I worked, I also got to meet with so many people from different backgrounds." - Bengisu

"This summer's STaRS internship allowed me to pursue my dreams of working in a lab and solidified my goal of becoming a research scientist in the hopefully near future." - Anita

Amara, 17, Lynbrook HS

"I can truly say the interactive working environment of Helms was an invaluable and eye opening experience for me. Though I was new to the science field, I was given the opportunity to actively participate in my own research."

 Zachary Dembner, 16, Mountain View HS

"The STaRS internship helped me build a foundation of critical and analytical thinking that I pull from every day even though I've chosen a path outside the sciences. The Helms lab is filled with deeply passionate doctoral students (and of course Jill) who mentored me during my time there and gave me a platform to take ownership of my learning through group presentations and projects. The work they are doing is so important and it makes me happy to see that it's continued safely during COVID-19."