Wigdan Hissein '26 - Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Fellowship (BSURF) at Duke

This past summer, I had the fortunate opportunity to join a cohort of 20 students and participate in Duke’s Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Fellowship (BSURF). This is a highly selective 8-week summer research program where students are placed in a biological or biomedical science laboratory to explore, investigate, and pursue hands-on research directly with a lab mentor.

I am grateful to have had the wonderful opportunity to be placed in Dr. Gustavo Silva’s lab where we investigate how cells respond to oxidative stress. Over the summer, my specific project was to investigate how stress-induced K63 ubiquitination plays a role in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae (yeast).

With very limited prior research — BSURF enabled me to gain various scientific skills and enhance my overall research experience in several ways. Over the span of 8 weeks, I conducted numerous experimental techniques including cellular fractionation to separate and isolate cellular components as well as immunoblotting through the use of gel electrophoresis to detect and recognize target proteins of interest.

Beyond the lab, BSURF introduced me to a strong community of brilliant peers and students that shared my love and passion for science. Together, we engaged in professional development workshops, attended faculty seminars, and participated in various STEM programming. In the end, we became not only members of the same program— but a family.

Participating in BSURF has been a truly transformative experience that has significantly enriched my research journey. Having the opportunity to expand my research skills, connect and network with students and faculty in science, and extensively collaborate with Duke’s Biology department will forever be an experience that holds value in my heart. I am certain that the skills and lessons I gained over the summer will continue to shape my future endeavors in science and medicine!