Since high school, Liz Lin '16 has been on a mission—to become a cancer researcher.
The biology major and international studies minor from Pennsylvania spent several summers in high school conducting cancer biology research. "When I came to Dartmouth, I knew I wanted to do more research," says Lin.
During her first year at Dartmouth, through the Women in Science Project (WISP) first-year research internship program, Lin was matched with William G. North, a professor of physiology and neurobiology at the Geisel School of Medicine. She worked with North from then on, researching cancer and novel treatment options, including peptides and immunotherapies. "Dr. North will always take the time to answer questions," she says, noting the lab's supportive environment.
"Liz was a delight to have in the laboratory, and the joy she brought to me and other researchers working with her is among the many reasons I find mentoring undergraduates so rewarding," says North.
Having worked in North's lab for over three years, Lin developed a strong appreciation for research and was responsible for designing her own experiments. "If you do research enough, you get to understand how to deal with failing and how to appreciate when things do work out," she says. Lin's senior thesis focused on pancreatic cancer and how certain NMDA receptor antagonists, normally associated with learning and memory, can be used to inhibit the growth pathways of pancreatic cancer cells.
In addition to working on her own projects, Lin also found reward in serving as a peer mentor to the WISP interns working in North's lab, sharing her own experiences from within and outside the lab. "Sometimes people need to make mistakes to figure things out," she says. "If you can be there for them while they make their own mistakes, then it isn't as bad."
Lin will attend Tufts University School of Medicine and plans to continue her research work.
The Women in Science Project was co-founded in 1990 by Carol Muller '77, former associate dean for administration at Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering, and the late Karen E. Wetterhahn, professor of chemistry and associate dean for the sciences. The program helps create an environment where women can thrive in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The program, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, has received numerous accolades and is replicated on college campuses nationwide.
The Web Services Student Content Corps is an experiential learning program designed to give students professional work experience in digital content creation. Content Corps members work under the guidance of the Web Services team to produce content for department and program websites.