Alyssa Boyko wants to pursue a science-centered career to uncover what is yet to be discovered in genetics, 干细胞治疗和神经科学. 现在是NDSU的新生，正在攻读生物学学位, Boyko already has a head start on her career ambition and is contributing to life-changing research.
“My goal is just to help people,” said Boyko, who is from Fargo. “我对很多不同的领域都感兴趣, 但生物学是我最感兴趣的.”
5月高中毕业后, Boyko immediately started working in NDSU assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences, 罗伯特·戈梅斯的, 实验室. Boyko is assisting in research that uses an alternative drug to chemotherapy to kill pancreatic cancer cells. The goal is to not damage normal cells as chemotherapy does.
While chemotherapy is effective in killing cancer cells in patients, Boyko said it leads to a lot of negative side effects that decrease the patient's quality of life. 在实验室里, Boyko’s team has created a drug that targets a specific protein, 而不是细胞的DNA, 保存正常细胞.
博伊科说她很享受在实验室的每一天. The most exciting part is knowing the research she’s working on will one day benefit others.
“Eventually the work we do here will help save many lives,”她说。.
Boyko began conducting research at NDSU even before starting classes. 刚刚过去的这个夏天, Boyko participated in the Summer 本科 Biomedical 研究 Program, which provides undergraduates with hands-on opportunities to develop as researchers by building skills and experience in their field.
Entering the 实验室 early allowed Boyko to solidify her decision to major in biology and helped her become more confident and comfortable working with others.
“It has given me a lot of great experience and I’m excited to learn more and do more research,”她说。.
在她的研究过程中, 博伊科发展了技术技能, 比如处理细胞, 以及实用技能, 比如时间管理. 博伊科喜欢与其他人密切合作, 包括戈麦斯和阿拉娜·马丁斯, a research assistant and doctoral student in pharmaceutical sciences, 是谁帮助博伊科驾驭实验室.
“I’m very grateful to have been a part of this program and to Dr. 谢谢你邀请我去他的实验室工作. I’ve learned a lot from him and I’ve met some amazing people here. 尤其是Allana. She’s served as a mentor for helping me train in and learn everything I need to know. She’s made it easy for me to ask questions and I feel comfortable and safe getting help. 她几乎教会了我所知道的一切，”她说.
When the Summer 本科 Biomedical 研究 Program concluded in August, Boyko presented the research to the campus community during a poster session. Boyko said presenting her work and learning about the other research projects taking place on campus was a highlight of the event.
Martins said watching Boyko develop as a researcher throughout the months leading up to the poster session has been unforgettable.
“It was a unique experience to see her presenting to a lot of people on her achievements during this summer program,马丁斯说. “I’m really proud of her and I can’t wait for this next semester to work with her and to achieve even more great results for this project.”
新大的研究环境对博伊科来说很突出, who said she’s been welcomed and part of the team since first arriving in Gomes’ 实验室.
“在NDSU, there are so many people dedicated to research and I feel like I really fit in here because there are so many students like me,”她说。.
Boyko wants to enter a career in research with a dream to one day work with spinal cerebellar ataxia, 一种主要影响小脑的遗传性疾病. SCA runs in Boyko’s family and is one of the reasons why she’s interested in science and research.
“I’d really like to learn more about it and come up with more potential treatments because there really aren’t a lot of options,”她说。.
There are ample opportunities to get involved in research at NDSU as an undergraduate and Boyko recommends students take the chance to pursue them.
“Get involved in research wherever you can as the opportunities present themself. Take advantage of those opportunities and always try to learn and grow in everything you do,”她说。. “You might not have the biggest or most important jobs to start out with, 但是无论任务多么小，都要尽自己最大的努力.”
研究对博伊科来说不仅仅是一份工作. 这是一个产生持久影响的机会.
“研究真的很重要. It has the power to positively affect people’s lives and to save their lives in some situations,”她说。. “Take your work seriously because it’s important no matter how small of a job you do. Take your work seriously and don’t forget to have fun along the way.”
To learn more about Boyko’s story, check out the official NDSU YouTube channel.
