Research makes the dream work: Undergraduate research student Ellie Sabalewski describes her involvement in the field of biomedical engineering research and getting started as a senior in high school
From left: Ellie Sabalewski, Cydney Dennis and Brock Lodato
By Jena Salem
Ellie Sabalewski began pursuing a career in research while still attending high school through the Dean’s Early Research Initiative (DERI), a program provided by the College of Engineering. The DERI program allowed her to grow into a capable, dedicated asset to her team.
Sabalewski has aided researchers in the Laboratory for Musculoskeletal Research and Innovation in discovering ways to construct longlasting implants through an intensive research project. Her main research project focuses on understanding how semaphorin 3C, which is a specific nerve-derived factor, affects the connection of bone with an implant (osseointegration).
“To complete this research, we used a variety of laboratory techniques including but not limited to cell culture, RT-qPCR, ELISA and western blotting,” Sabalewski said. “Although these hands-on laboratory skills were extremely helpful to learn, the thought process associated with these experiments such as considering previous literature and taking time to consider the correct experimental plan to solve problems was the most beneficial skill I learned in this laboratory.”
Although she had no prior knowledge of this subject, Sabalewski grew to deeply care about improving bone and dental implants by means of exploring microenvironments and the quality of different titanium surfaces. Jingyao Deng, her graduate student mentor, communicated the importance of developing successful implants and that patients with compromising conditions rarely receive ones that properly accommodate their needs. Sabalewski’s contributions to this research project have expanded the information at our fingertips about how titanium implants influence cellular responses.
Sabalewski has developed a keen ability to time manage in a way that sets her up for success both in her studies and laboratory work. Being a part of this program has also helped her achieve long-term goals such as gaining hands-on experience that reflects positively on Ph.D. applications and furthering her education in general.
“From participating in undergraduate research, I learned that I have a great passion for academic research and that I want to continue with it. The most important skills I have learned have been how to think critically as a researcher. Physically running the experiments and those skills have certainly been fun to learn over the years, but understanding the greater meaning behind the work and how it intertwines with current literature is really exciting,” Sabalewski said.
While attending Maggie Walker Governor’s School in Richmond, Virginia, Sabalewski was introduced to the world of biomedical engineering through the DERI, a program at the Virginia Commonwealth University College of Engineering. This gave her the opportunity to join a research program close to home as a senior in high school.
Sabalewski attributes her pursuing DERI at a young age to a desire to learn more about academic research and determine if this career path is the right fit. Her fascination with this specific area of work stems from its versatility and ability to cover a wide range of information. She believes that getting involved in research early on is very advantageous due to students having ample time to become familiar with the techniques and processes. It also develops critical thinking skills and allows room for improvement. As a result, once a student enrolls in college, they will have already honed the skills necessary to excel.
“I was interested in this program because I had taken an introduction to engineering course at my high school that I really enjoyed, and I was always very interested in medicine without the interest in becoming a medical doctor,” Sabalewski said. “Therefore, biomedical engineering seemed perfect, and this program would allow me to try it out before attending college. My experience in the Lab for Musculoskeletal Research and Innovation was so great with my mentor Ph.D. student Jingyao Deng and professors Dr. Barbara Boyan and Dr. Josh Cohen, so I decided that I wanted to attend VCU to continue this research.”
Sabalewski also credits Ph.D. student mentor Cydney Dennis with being a significant influence when she conducted her research.
Research programs like DERI present students that are looking to break into specific fields with the opportunity to get ahead of the curve. Virginia Commonwealth University sets students up for success by providing an environment to build a foundation of knowledge pertaining to whichever path they choose to follow. By the time undergraduates such as Sabalewski are accepted into their desired school, they will have the tools to network effectively and demonstrate the skills they were able to refine through working on a research project. It’s an excellent way to “practice” before stepping into a professional position.
This is not to say that undergraduate research is without its challenges. Sabalewski expresses that it often takes up a lot of her time and pushes newcomers to stretch beyond their limits. Even so, she insists that doing so is well worth it because of the connections created and knowledge accumulated throughout her entire experience.
“My senior year of high school was still during the COVID lockdown, so I completed most of my work remotely including becoming familiar with the literature regarding my research topic and performing image data analysis,” Sabalewski said. “Honestly, it was a great distraction from the monotony of lockdown as I was able to learn about something new and exciting that I wanted to pursue more in the future. Balancing academics and research was not really a problem during high school but was definitely a skill I had to develop when I started my undergraduate degree.”
Sabalewski strongly encourages students interested in undergraduate research to go after their ambition and recommends starting as soon as possible. Doing so offers up the chance to connect with professors and research topics. Listen to instructors during class, visit them within their office hours and be sure to voice any aspirations to participate in undergraduate research. As long as a student is eager to learn, this will bolster the likelihood of earning a position, even if they don’t have any previous experience working in research.
The Department of Biomedical Engineering provides undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to perform real-world research as soon as they enroll. From delving into the intricacies of cell migration in cancer research to exploring tissue engineering in menisci, tendons and ligaments, our students pursue a diverse range of cutting-edge research topics. Browse videos and recent news from the Department of Biomedical Engineering to discover how the College of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University prepares the next generation of scientists and engineers for the challenges of the future.
Categories Biomedical Engineering, Student Stories, Undergraduate Student Stories