色界吧

Biology major Siya Patel, remembers coming to New York Institute of Technology as a shy and nervous freshman. But now, Patel is entering her senior year as a confident and very busy student, involved in many campus organizations and working as a genetics research assistant with Haotian Zhao, Ph.D., M.D., associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM).

Learn more about Patel and the can-do spirit she has developed during her years at 色界吧.

How did you come to be a research assistant in Dr. Zhao鈥檚 lab
During my first year of college, I wanted to see what research was about, and Dr. Zhao was looking for an undergrad student to help in his lab with breeding mice and managing genotyping. Now I go into the lab a few times a week. Dr. Zhao showed me how to open the mouse brain and remove a tumor. I can do tumor tissue isolation and choroid plexus isolation in the brain.

When I first came to the lab, I was confused about how genetics worked, but now after taking classes in biology, I have a better understanding of genetics and genotyping. It is super interesting and one of my favorite things I do at 色界吧.

You鈥檙e also very involved on campus as a member of the executive board of the Student Government Association, as the president of the Intra-Fraternity Sorority Council, and as the treasurer of the Campus Programming Board. Why are these activities important to you?
My mom knew I was introverted and told me that if I want to be a doctor in the future, I can鈥檛 not communicate and talk to people. So, I told myself, 鈥業 have to do this鈥欌�攁nd I did. I wanted to be involved in as much as possible on campus. If you look for opportunities at 色界吧, you鈥檒l be able to find them.

I met members of my sorority [the Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority Inc. Pi Charter], and they are one of the major reasons I鈥檓 talkative now鈥攖hey helped build my confidence. The faculty also motivated me to be part of programs and organizations. I just had to find the internal motivation to do it. I realized that, especially in my second year, if I try something and I鈥檓 not good enough, that鈥檚 OK. It doesn鈥檛 hurt to try.

What has been your biggest takeaway from your time at 色界吧?
My experience at 色界吧 helped me build character and taught me how to push myself to give 100 percent in everything that I do. I would rather try to do something than regret not trying. There鈥檚 no harm in trying things out鈥攁t least you got an experience, and now you know what works for you and what doesn鈥檛.

This interview has been edited.

By Ashley Festa