Hi! I'm Isa and I'm a rising junior from Texas. This past summer I took the Course-Based Research Experience course, ‘Fermentation Frontiers: Adventures in Wild Yeast Identification.’
Favorite experience at Brown Pre-College?
My favorite part of Brown Pre-College was the independence I had while living on campus. It gave me the opportunity to manage my own schedule, explore Providence, go to the gym, and experience what college life is really like. On weekends, I especially enjoyed going to the beach with friends, which was the perfect balance to the challenging coursework. Those experiences helped me become more confident, independent, and made my time at Brown both academically rewarding and genuinely fun.
What course did you take and what did you learn in your course?
I took CRE: Fermentation Frontiers, where I conducted independent research comparing wild and laboratory yeast to determine how each responded to oxidative stress and whether wild yeast could serve as a model organism in place of domesticated yeast. Through my project, I discovered that wild yeast populations vary tremendously, making them much less consistent than laboratory strains for research. I also learned how oxidative stress is connected to disease and how antioxidants can help protect cells from damage, giving me a broader understanding of why yeast is such a valuable model organism in biological research. This experience taught me how to ask meaningful scientific questions, analyze experimental data, and appreciate the importance of reproducibility in research.
What is your biggest takeaway from Brown Pre-College?
My biggest takeaway from Brown Pre-College is that it’s up to you to make the most of every opportunity you’re given. Whether it was conducting research in the lab, attending office hours, exploring campus, or spending time with new friends, I realized that the experience is what you choose to make of it. Taking initiative allowed me to grow both academically and personally, and it showed me how rewarding it can be to step outside my comfort zone. I’ll carry that mindset with me as I continue pursuing new opportunities in the future.
