Notre Dame Scholarship
“Passion gives you purpose, and persistence makes it possible.”
My name is Simran, and during the final year of Pharmacology, I had the incredible opportunity to spend ten weeks at the (opens in a new window)University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, USA, as part of the Naughton Fellowship program. During this time, I pursued research in Professor Kaiyu Fu’s laboratory, in collaboration with Professor Yichun Wang’s group on a project at the intersection of biomedical engineering and drug delivery. It was an unforgettable experience to conduct cutting-edge research in a new cultural and academic setting, surrounded by brilliant minds, discovering new science and a new sense of purpose.
When I first heard about this prestigious opportunity, I was an exchange student at the (opens in a new window)National University of Singapore, actively contributing to and engaging with research groups there. During that time, I had already begun to develop a strong inclination and deep curiosity towards science, and a commitment to generating meaningful knowledge through research. Encouraged by that passion, I decided to apply for the (opens in a new window)Naughton Fellowship at the University of Notre Dame, and I was thrilled to be awarded the sole spot representing UCD College of Science for the summer program.
Arriving at the University of Notre Dame felt both exciting and a little surreal. The campus was vast, green, and full of energy, with people constantly on the move between labs, lectures, and coffee spots. I worked in McCourtney Hall, a research facility that brings together scientists and engineers from different disciplines. From the very first day, I was struck by how welcoming everyone was, both in Professor Fu’s group and across the university. It didn’t take long for the lab to start feeling like a second home, where every day brought something new to learn or try. The mix of collaboration, curiosity, and genuine enthusiasm around me made it easy to settle in and stay motivated.
Most of my days in McCourtney Hall started early, often with coffee in hand and a quick chat with my postdoctoral mentor, Qing Cao, about our plan for the day. Our project focused on developing microneedle-based drug delivery systems, a delicate process that required patience, precision, and extensive hands-on learning. I spent time preparing samples, running experiments, and analysing results, often discovering that minor adjustments could make a big difference. Qing was incredibly supportive, always taking the time to explain the reasoning behind each step and encouraging me to think critically about our methods. Working alongside her taught me that research is as much about problem-solving and creativity as it is about data and results.
During our weekly group meetings, we discussed our progress with all the lab members and our supervisor, Professor Kaiyu Fu. These meetings taught me how to think like a scientist; the results, methods used, and parameters chosen were scrutinized, and constructive feedback was shared to refine our experiments. The supportive lab environment made a huge difference; members often volunteered to help troubleshoot experiments or demonstrate new techniques, creating a space where learning and collaboration went hand in hand.
My project was about building a microneedle tool with potential applications of drug delivery and biosensing. One particular application we focused on was integrating the microneedle array with 3D Cell Cultures to enable high-throughput drug screening. Most of my time at Notre Dame was spent building the microneedle tool, which was in its early stages of development. We spent endless hours making the needle mould with the laser-cutting machine and testing the output needles for stability and drug release in solution. Noticing my enthusiasm and growing independence in the lab, Professor Kaiyu Fu encouraged me to contribute to a second project in collaboration with Professor Saurja DasGupta’s Lab; this project focused on developing an RNA sensor to detect abnormal levels of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) in blood, an important indicator implicated in several diseases.
In addition to my lab work at Notre Dame, I participated in weekly events organized for undergraduate students in summer research programs. These ranged from informative workshops, such as sessions on CV building, research communication, and graduate school preparation, to fun community activities, such as dance evenings and even ice skating. I also had the chance to serve as a panelist, sharing my experience at University College Dublin, which could benefit students considering studying abroad. It was exciting to meet and connect with students from all over the world, each of us brought together by a shared curiosity and a common goal: a passion for research.
As the programme drew to a close, all participants presented their work at the Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, a wonderful celebration of our projects and the progress we had made. Alongside the poster presentation, I was honoured to be selected as one of only 13 finalists for the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, where I gave a short talk about my research (available to watch here). It was incredibly rewarding to share my work with such an engaged audience, and I was delighted by the positive feedback and interest it received. The experience not only strengthened my communication skills but also reminded me of the joy of making science accessible and exciting to others.
To conclude, I would like to express my deep gratitude to everyone who made this experience possible. I would like to thank University College Dublin, College of Science, for nominating me, and the Naughton Fellowship for funding and supporting this incredible opportunity. A special thank-you to Kaitlyn Stankiewicz, our programme coordinator at Notre Dame, for her constant support and kindness throughout the fellowship. Sincere thanks to Professor Kaiyu Fu’s lab, Professor Yichun Wang’s lab, and Professor Saurja DasGupta’s lab for welcoming me into their teams and for their invaluable mentorship and collaboration. My heartfelt gratitude goes to my mentors, Junming Huang, Dr. Qing Cao, and Dr. Annyesha Biswas, for their patience, guidance, and encouragement throughout my research journey.
Beyond the lab, I’m equally thankful to my fellow Naughton Fellows, whose friendship and enthusiasm made my time in the U.S. truly enjoyable. From late-evening conversations to exploring nearby cities like Chicago and Michigan together, those shared moments made the summer truly unforgettable.
Looking back, I wouldn’t have it any other way. It was the summer of a lifetime that strengthened my confidence and reaffirmed my passion for science.