Denise Lee

Rising Sophomore
Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Rice University
CEINT Research Site: CEREGE, Aix-en-Provence, France

Having the privilege of working at the CEREGE this summer through the CEINT REU allowed me to mature both as a scientist and as a person. Being able to work in an international setting was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that opened my eyes to how different cultures live, work, and play. My project taught me how to communicate well with other scientists, honed my critical thinking skills, and how to think about the world of research in an international, interdisciplinary context. Perhaps most important of all, however, the CEINT REU granted me patience and humbleness in the pursuit of knowledge – a rare gift that I will take with me for the rest of my life.

Career Impact and Plans

The CEINT REU helped cultivate my love for research and science, and going overseas also helped me realize my desire to think, work, and serve in a global context. I hope to somehow incorporate all of these things into a medical career in the future (MD + research track, MD/PhD, etc.) For the summer of 2014, I hope to split my time in between traveling independently, engaging in international service fellowships, and continuing to work on cancer research here in Houston.