Scholars at White Station High School (WSHS) are determined to make a change, modifying one gene at a time. Ivan Dam (12) and Garrett Chaudron (12) have gained experience in labs alongside doctors and scientists while researching at the St. Jude High School Research Immersion Program.
Dam focused on neuroblastoma cells, which are cells that can grow to be representative of cancerous tumors. Usually, complex cells like these require an expensive media to grow, but Dam experimented with the possibility of growing complex cells in cheaper media. This cell growth would make researching cancer more affordable.
“If we could [successfully grow complex cells in cheaper media], then there could be greater accessibility to neuroblastoma cells,” Dam said. “It helps more institutions research neuroblastoma because it makes it more affordable to research.”
Research occurred Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the 8-week-long summer program. Dam and his research partner analyzed cell growth daily, spinning cells into 2D and 3D balls to replicate tumors. By the end of the program, students present their research on a scientific poster. The program simulates what workdays are like for engineers, chemists and biologists in the health sector.
“It’s actual work — you have to be focused, and it’s pretty much like a job.” Chaudron said.
Not only did researchers in the program investigate biochemical processes, but they also experimented with gene editing machinery. Chaudron specialized his research in the adenine base editor. Adenine base editors accurately edit genomes by switching out nucleotides in DNA, while clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), a breakthrough gene editor tool, can be messy as it makes cuts in the DNA.
“I researched just how it performed compared to other proteins. And in the future, this could help with sickle cell and cancer.” Chaudron said.
The students began the program summer 2025 as rising seniors. Only 15% of scholars who apply are accepted. Once admitted into the program, they are randomly assigned a research topic and partner. Though the program was initially intimidating, Dam and Chaudron gained rewarding experiences and connections.
“Me and [Dam] had made a ton of friends that we wouldn’t have made if we didn’t go to the program,” Chaudron said. “It pushed us to be more social and to try to actively build connections. We still talk to our mentors now, even after the program.”
By experiencing these fields of science first hand, both students took away lessons that could be applied to their future professional careers. They were assigned mentors and were surrounded by people with decades of experience in the field.
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” Chaudron said. “You have all these PhD people around you that have been doing this research for so long and they’re really knowledgeable.”
Dam gained a new appreciation for research institutions, like St. Jude, that help advance lesser-funded institutions. He plans to pursue biochemistry, the study of chemical processes within living organisms.
“I do want to continue doing research after high school,” Dam said. “I really like just being in the lab.”
Chaudron received further clarity about his future major and career. He was assigned to the Good Manufacturing Practices department where he worked with machinery for biological processes. By further exploring his interest for engineering and biology, he confirmed his future major.
“During 11th grade when I took biology, I was like ‘Biomedical engineering seems like the thing for me,’” Chaudron said. “And then I did this research internship and I was like, ‘Yeah, this is really for me. This is really cool.’”
Dam and Chaudron not only got to experience working in a Science Technology Engineering and Math field and create connections, but have contributed towards a change in technology. They look back on their experience in the program fondly with new work experience, knowledge and peers as evidence of their impact at the institution. They encourage other students to reach out to programs similar to the St. Jude High School Research Immersion Program and participate in research themselves.
“Research is fun,” Chaudron said. “Go for it. Find opportunities.”