COSMOS is a selective 4-week summer program for California students interested in STEM. There are 4 campuses: UCSD, UCI, UCSC, and UCD. I applied for UCI cluster 1 (protein) and cluster 4 (antibiotics). If you are applying, these essays may serve as a source of inspiration. My essays overlapped a lot with my BU RISE essays because they asked questions about my scientific interests.
1.Why did you select cluster 4: Can you make the next billion-dollar antibiotic? (200 words)
Last year, I earned 2nd place in the 2019 PDB (Protein Data Bank) video challenge. In 2 minutes, I explained the function of aminoglycosides and the dangers of antibiotic resistance. After using Chimera software to visualize the structural effects of antibiotics on the ribosome, I no longer viewed medicine as some mysterious magic potion. Instead, I saw it as a substance with a specific target. The answers to curing bacterial diseases were right in front of my computer screen. More importantly, I informed the general public what actions they can take to prevent the misuse of antibiotic resistance.
Cluster 4 stood out to me because I am eager to learn more about antibiotics so I can apply this knowledge in the real world that may yield solutions. Although I am currently taking an online organic chemistry class, I have yet to experience the hands-on part of organic chemistry that is essential to how I learn science. At COSMOS, I can exchange insightful ideas with my like-minded peers on how to use organic synthesis to make antibiotics. By doing so, I can get one step closer to my goal: helping people diagnosed with antibiotic resistance diseases.
Link: http://pdb101.rcsb.org/events/video-challenge/2019-awards.
2. Why did you select cluster 1: Mimicking natural protein interactions to target cancer and other diseases? (200 words)
Ever since 2018, I participated in a Science Olympiad event called Protein Modeling that sparked my interest in proteins. When I learned about the anti-CRISPR protein, it alarmed me that it was stopping CRISPR from working. Wondering how this could happen, I used Jmol software to build the protein model. Over time, I started to have a visual understanding of how its unique bonding and structure contributed to its function. No longer viewing proteins as messy globs, I appreciated the protein’s distinct shape.
In my second year, I read research papers from Nature to learn more about cytidine deaminase. Identifying the amino acids that allowed the enzyme to work was like pinpointing the coordinates of the treasure chest on a treasure map. The fact that this treasure could unlock the potential of base editing to take CRISPR onto the next level blew my mind.
My experience influenced me to select this cluster because the project's goal aligns with mine: making proteins to save lives. I realize that these proteins may not be a panacea. But I am aware that if I can build on my knowledge, I can contribute to a better future - one protein at a time.
3.What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better? (300 words)
One Saturday afternoon, my teacher began the online organic chemistry class by saying, “Let’s enjoy and relax by learning chemistry.” After soaking in these words, I gradually changed my attitude towards learning science. Previously, I had this preconception that I would learn chemistry and be done with it. Now, however, I realized that I will never know enough. Seeing chemistry in a different light made me become a detective by putting all the puzzle pieces together to create a clear image. With my magnifying glass, I was eager to spot unusual patterns that went against my assumptions. By doing so, I started to appreciate and comprehend the eccentric world of matter. What I used to perceive as a serious subject now transitioned to a playful one. This quest redefined science as a lifelong endeavor that did not have a predetermined destination.
For the past 8 months, I have been embarking on this adventure by learning advanced chemistry and organic chemistry online. For the first 2 months, I felt so lost that I contemplated dropping the class. However, I persisted after thinking back to why I was initially excited to take on this challenge. I attended the class to broaden my horizons in chemistry. After overcoming this obstacle, I gradually acclimated to the difficulty. With my teacher’s words in mind, I started to unleash my passion for chemistry, learning the topic for its own sake.
This experience has demonstrated my tenacity, passion, and curiosity that would let me thrive in COSMOS. The hands-on exposure would be an opportunity for me to get out of my comfort zone and make my learning experience more complete. Not only that, interacting with peers that share similar interests as I do will help me grow as a budding chemist.
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