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There was no summer slack for three Baldwin Wallace STEM Scholars whose ambition and skills put them at the doorstep of prestigious research programs at NASA's Goodard Space Flight Center, Johns Hopkins-Rosetta Commons and MetroHealth.
The coveted and highly competitive opportunities reflect the elite level at which BW students are prepared to work on advanced research at top national institutions. It is a win-win for the students, Baldwin Wallace and the research, which relies on a dedicated team of individuals to do the hands-on work needed for advances in medicine, science and technology.
Kyla Koos '25 is at the forefront of seeing her career dreams come to fruition. The talented physics and applied mathematics major was selected for an esteemed summer research program among 300 applicants.
Technically, Koos is an Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) Scholars intern through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research in Arlington, Virginia, and sponsored by Universities Space Research Association. It is a distinguished title and resume booster, for sure. But a more user-friendly version might say the Elyria, Ohio, native is working onsite at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, participating in Quantum Engineering and Sensing Technology (QuEST) research.
The project is elite, and the scientists, equipment and resources are among the best in the country. It is a perfect fit for Koos, whose interest, knowledge and skills in quantum computing are making her a fast-rising star at the undergraduate level. In addition to her NASA internship, she has had a competitive research position with IBM Quantum and Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute.
"I was a research assistant with Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute working on a military contracted project for why and how the United States Air Force could use quantum computing. This experience inspired me to combine my interest in military technology advancement and my physics background. Through a Google search, I came across the AFRL Scholar's site and applied for a summer internship in the QuEST Lab," said Koos.
"Working at NASA has shown me how interdisciplinary and fulfilling a career in engineering can be and how well my research background and work experience could translate into an engineering career. My project has allowed me to gain the practical, hands-on experience I need for an engineering career while working alongside some of the world's leading professionals in labs with cutting-edge technology," she noted.
Ashley Blum '25, a biology major from North Ridgeville, Ohio, is participating in a highly competitive internship called the Rosetta Commons - Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) that melds her interest in medicine with technology.
The program, which is funded by a U.S. National Science Foundation grant awarded to Johns Hopkins University, is an international initiative of 29 labs across the U.S., Germany and Israel.
Blum's site is the Steffen Lindert Lab at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, which is studying human proteins with the goal of understanding how they fit together and work. The technologically advanced and complex research being done at the lab can aid in medical drug discovery, understanding biological processes and designing therapeutics.
In addition to spending eight weeks at the R-1 lab, Blum will travel to Seattle in early August to present her research at the Rosetta Conference and connect with Rosetta developers from around the world.
"This opportunity is giving me outstanding research experience and exposure to coding in the realm of biology," said Blum. "I already had plenty of experience working in a wet lab with Dr. Colleen Nye in BW's Zebrafish lab. But, I was lacking computational research.
"This internship will provide that hands-on learning, as well as help me prepare for my career path. My goal is to pursue an M.D.–Ph.D. with a computational aspect," she added.
Sam Dickhaut '26 just got one step closer to his goal of entering the medical field. The biology major from Brecksville, Ohio, was one of 14 students across the U.S. accepted into the 10-week MetroHealth Chester Summer Scholars Program, which gives pre-med and science students opportunities to explore medical research and academic medicine.
"My project is in the NICU and focused on identifying risk factors of very low birth weight infants to fungal infections. Most of the research projects are done through retrospective patient chart reviews and are led by a neonatology physician," said Dickhaut.
"Through this internship, I have gained valuable relationships with peers from other institutions who have similar goals to me, as well as with doctors who can mentor me throughout my education. I also have been able to shadow many medical professionals in different departments, which will help me make career choices in the future," he went on to say.
"Without my STEM Scholars Peer Mentor, I do not think I would have obtained this amazing internship experience. She sent me the information about this internship and many others and wrote multiple letters of recommendation for me. Her experience and dedication certainly helped me to boost my chances of being accepted into this internship program," emphasized Dickhaut.
The Choose Ohio First STEM Scholars Program is an innovative, proven program that prepares students for successful careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
BW awards substantial Choose Ohio First Scholarships designed to significantly strengthen Ohio's competitiveness within STEM disciplines, as well as STEM education and healthcare fields.
In November 2023, the Ohio Department of Higher Education awarded $1.2 million in new Choose Ohio First grants to BW in the fifth round of funding under the program. BW also received substantial awards in each of the previous four rounds of funding to support the university's robust STEM Scholars programming and other initiatives.
