Nicole Miles learning how to take blood pressure during a Oncofertility Saturday Academy module in 2008. Nicole is now a sophomore at Smith College with the goal of applying to medical school.

The Oncofertility Summer Research Fellowship 2010 selected three Oncofertility Saturday Academy alumni students to provide them with ongoing support to pursue their academic and career goals.  Nicole Miles, Shaquita Webster, and Megan Romero will be working in Dr. Teresa Woodruff’s laboratory alongside basic research scientists this summer for eight weeks.  Student fellows will be involved in conducting biological research in the field of Oncofertility.  Fellows will take part in day-to-day lab operations, attend weekly meetings, and learn cutting-edge biotechnology techniques while assisting with research on a NIH-funded project.  Fellows will be writing papers detailing the results of their research as a required portion of this fellowship. In addition, students will aid in the planning of and assist with the inaugural Infectious Diseases Saturday Academy program.

The three fellows have a variety of science interests and career aspirations.  Nicole Miles is a sophomore at Smith College and taking the prerequisite courses to apply for medical school to become an OB/GYN clinician.  Shaquita Webster is a freshman at Spelman College who took a couple biology courses this year.  Shaquita is anticipating that the summer fellowship will support her to make the decision to pursue a career in reproductive physiology.  Megan Romero is returning for her second year of the fellowship.  As an experienced student fellow, she will provide additional leadership and guidance to Nicole and Shaquita.  Megan will be transferring to a university in Florida with an accredited forensic science program next fall to start her junior year in college.

The Oncofertility Summer Research Fellowship is a continuation of the Oncofertlity Saturday Academy for the fellows.  The Oncofertility Saturday Academy recruits high school girls who are curious about science to increase the number of girls and minorities entering the “science pipeline.”  The Oncofertility Summer Research Fellowship retains the girls to keep them in the “science pipeline” as they transition from high school to college.