Jaqueline Yutan ’22 loves a good puzzle, and she’s found a whole world of intricate problems to solve thanks to an early introduction to research.
This past summer, the biochemistry major joined the Biomedical Education Pipeline Initiative at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, a large Los Angeles hospital. The program introduces diverse and underrepresented students to research, which was perfect for Yutan, who learned of it thanks to Elizabeth Sanchez, advisor with the Advancing STEM Academic Program at Whittier.
When Yutan arrived at the towering glass hospital, she found a home in the Center for Integrated Research in Cancer and Lifestyle. The science team investigates how patients’ daily diet and exercise choices can slow the progression of their diseases. Yutan specifically looked into glioblastomas—aggressive tumors in the brain and spinal cord—and the popular Keto Diet, in order to form a research proposal involving the two by the end of her program.
“I like the idea of researching lifestyle,”which gives patients simple steps to help manage their health,” Yutan said. She shadowed a clinical dietician, which included visits to the hospital’s chemotherapy center to interview patients about their diets, and how they felt. “The patients feel as if they have a say about what goes into their bodies more, and they actually feel like they’re doing something.”
Yutan not only gained real-world experience that opens the door to more opportunities to her, but she also came away from the pipeline program with a greater understanding of what research looks like. It’s not one person alone in a laboratory; it’s collaborative and involves constant communication—skills in which Whittier prepares its students to excel in. Going into her sophomore year, Yutan has an ignited interest in pursuing research further.
“There are so many questions to answer, and so many questions people haven’t come up with,” she said. She loves chemistry in particular, with its layers of experimental procedures and calculations on the path to discovering a new piece of the puzzle.
“Every single little puzzle piece makes a difference,” she said. And with every new experience, Yutan is more prepared to start making one, herself.
