The value of an SBI research internship: Perspectives from a 4th year UCD Physiology student
By Elaine O'Boyle
26 June 2025
My name is Elaine O’Boyle, and I’m a final year undergraduate student in Physiology at University College Dublin. This year, I had the opportunity to complete my final year research project at Systems Biology Ireland (SBI), under the supervision of Dr. David Gómez. What began as a nerve-wracking placement turned into the most formative experience of my degree, both scientifically and personally.
I was the only 4th-year Physiology student assigned to SBI, while most of my classmates remained in the Conway Institute. At the time, that made me incredibly nervous. I hadn’t been in a research lab before, and the practical experience I had gained in previous years didn’t feel like enough. I walked into SBI unsure of what to expect and worried that I wouldn’t be able to keep up. Everyone around me seemed confident and experienced, and I felt completely out of my depth.
But almost immediately, that started to change. I quickly realised that in research, no one has all the answers, and that’s exactly the point. At SBI, you’re not expected to be perfect. You’re expected to be curious, to think critically, and to grow. And that’s exactly what happened.
Under Dr. Gómez’s supervision, I was given the chance to work on a real, meaningful project. I investigated the distinct roles of LATS1 and LATS2 in melanoma, using SK-MEL-2 cells and analysing how these kinases interact with oncogenic signalling pathways like MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and Hippo. This wasn’t a simplified student project, it was actual research. I learned how to culture cells, transfect them, perform immunoprecipitations, and prepare samples for proteomic analysis using mass spectrometry.
Part of my project also contributed to a figure in a publication that was being prepared in the lab. It was surreal to think that I could be part of published research as an undergraduate, and even more surreal to see my own work feed into something that might advance how we understand cancer signalling.
What made the biggest difference in my experience was the mentorship I received. Dr. Gómez doesn’t just teach you how to do the work, he teaches you how to think. He encouraged me to understand the purpose behind each experiment and to see the bigger picture. At first, I focused on following protocols step-by-step, but with time and his guidance, I began to connect everything into a coherent scientific story. He constantly asked me to pause and reflect, what’s the logic here? Why does this matter? That shift in perspective changed how I approached every task.
He has a sharp sense of humour, and his expressions alone could tell you when it is time to rethink something, usually with a raised eyebrow that said more than words. It’s his way of letting you know you’ve said something questionable, but always with the underlying message that he believes you’re capable of figuring it out. And once I was confident enough, he started letting me run experiments on my own. That independence gave me a real sense of responsibility. I stopped feeling like a student watching science happen and started feeling like a researcher doing the work myself.
The environment at SBI was equally important. Everyone was approachable, welcoming, and willing to help. I was included in lab meetings, encouraged to ask questions, and made to feel like part of the group. It’s the kind of place where people care deeply about the quality of the science, but they also care about each other. That balance is rare, and it made a huge difference in my experience.
In just ten weeks, I went from having no lab skills to contributing to a research project, analysing real data, and participating in the process of discovery. I learned how to troubleshoot, how to communicate scientific ideas, and perhaps most importantly, how to believe in myself. I also learned the value of writing accurate and detailed lab protocols, something I came to appreciate very quickly when I had to repeat my own steps weeks later.
If you’re a student considering an internship or research project and you’re offered the chance to work with Dr. David Gómez at SBI, take it. You don’t need to be the most experienced or confident person walking in. You just need to be open to learning and willing to put in the work. The rest will come.
I entered the lab unsure of myself. I left with a completed thesis, new skills, a deeper understanding of cancer biology, and the belief that I can actually do this. Thank you, David, for trusting me, challenging me, and teaching me more than just science. Thank you, SBI, for showing me what it feels like to belong in research.