Biomedical Engineering Student Abigail Lakey

Author: Abigail Lakey | Major: Biomedical Engineering | Semester: Fall 2022

My name is Abigail Lakey, and I am studying biomedical engineering with the dream of entering the industry to design medical devices that will make a difference in patient’s lives. I am very interested in the prospect of being involved in a startup company someday, and thanks to the Honors College Domestic Internship Grant, I had the opportunity to have an internship at Namida Lab – an innovative startup right here in Fayetteville. They are developing cutting-edge methods for cancer screening with the goal of identifying biomarkers in tears, making cancer screening cheaper and more accessible for all populations.

During my internship, I had the opportunity to meet the bright and bold entrepreneurs at Namida, hear their stories, and learn about what it takes to make these breakthroughs happen. It takes more than a good idea to develop a new medical test or technology; it takes passion, determination, a ton of perseverance, and startup experience. What this looks like in the real world just can’t be taught in class. You have to be there, talking to people who are experiencing it, and see the everyday details for yourself.

My primary task as an intern was to assemble the at-home testing kits, and in doing so I developed a protocol for the most efficient assembly process, which significantly increased the number of kits packed per hour. I also wrote summaries of their published research in everyday language for their correspondence with the public. Additionally, I assisted with finding and categorizing research papers on cancer biomarkers for their internal use. I also got to shadow their lab technician as he processed samples from clinical trials and learn about their cutting-edge technology.

This internship was a valuable experience that allowed me to build connections and deepened my understanding of medical startups and entrepreneurship. I am so thankful for this opportunity provided by the U of A Domestic Internship Grant.