Presenting my poster!

Author: Jayita Ujjaini | Major: Biomedical Engineering | Semester: Spring 2025

Earlier this April, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to present my research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) 2025. My project focuses on controlling the expression of the IL-10 gene, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, using a CRISPR-based activation system. CRISPR-Ca9 is a powerful tool in gene editing. Essentially, this research explores how we can improve the immune system by boosting protective responses, which has exciting implications for treating chronic inflammatory diseases like diabetes.

Traveling to Pittsburgh from Fayetteville felt like a big leap as this was my first time presenting as an undergraduate student outside of the university. As a senior majoring in Biomedical Engineering, this trip helped me build professional networks in the scientific community. NCUR brought together students from across the country and across all disciplines, all driven by curiosity and a passion for solving real-world problems. It was very insightful to be in a space where so many brilliant students were sharing their work.

I had practiced explaining my project to people outside my field, but nothing could fully prepare me for the range of curious questions from attendees, faculty mentors, and even students from unrelated disciplines. I got a lot of wonderful feedback which helped me shape my thesis and explore more within the research. I met a lot of people there, including field experts in microbiology and genetic engineering. Between sessions and over breaks, I met other undergraduates doing groundbreaking work in synthetic biology, immunotherapy, and bioinformatics. These conversations made me think more deeply about how to improve the precision of my experiments, and I left with fresh ideas to incorporate back in the lab. It was a humbling experience.

This trip also solidified my confidence as a future researcher. Being surrounded by others who were equally passionate, and sometimes equally nervous, about presenting their work reminded me that science is a shared journey. I learned to trust my preparation, communicate clearly, and embrace unexpected questions as opportunities to grow.

My favorite part of the experience besides the conference was exploring the city and the food. I loved Pittsburgh! I also made a lot of friends through the trip as we traveled together. I am really grateful for such an opportunity to connect and share my work.

To any students thinking about attending NCUR in the future: do it. Apply even if you feel unsure. Presenting your work, no matter how early-stage it may be, opens doors you did not even know existed. The experience is as much about sharing ideas as it is about finding your voice and your place in the research community.

So, what’s next for me? I will hopefully be starting a lab technician role this summer while preparing for graduate school. I am really excited to see where life takes me from there!