Building Confidence in the Lab

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 New York Tech.

How did you come to be a research assistant in Dr. Zhao’s 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 New York Tech.

You’re 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’t not communicate and talk to people. So, I told myself, ‘I have to do this’—and I did. I wanted to be involved in as much as possible on campus. If you look for opportunities at New York Tech, you’ll 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’m talkative now—they 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’m not good enough, that’s OK. It doesn’t hurt to try.

What has been your biggest takeaway from your time at New York Tech?
My experience at New York Tech 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’s no harm in trying things out—at least you got an experience, and now you know what works for you and what doesn’t.

This interview has been edited.

By Ashley Festa