STEM Personal Essay

As a chemistry and physics major, I love to ask questions: anything learned is uncertain

until proven and even when proven, there can be errors. My mindset is particularly useful in my

field of interest- micro worlds or, to be accurate, the nanoscale world where nothing is certain

and everything behaves differently than how it would in bulk. It is easy to forget that the world

holds so much more that what one sees and understands, thus the chase to uncover something

absolutely novel is exhilarating. I am generally interested in anything condensed matter or

chemical physics-related and their applications in medicine and material science being

researched in the Maruyama/chiashi lab, as well as the Aoki, Dani, Awazu, Kawata, Kawano, and

Saito labs, among others, but I am not afraid to step out of my comfort zone and explore

unfamiliar research themes such as solid state electronics in the Suemitsu lab.

On a separate note, I am familiar with research on the microbiome. During the summer of

2014, as a part of MITs Minority Introduction to Technology, Engineering and Science (MITES)

intensive six week residential program, I worked in a four person team for the genomics elective

course at the Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard to identify bacteria associated with a specific

location on the body. We determined the bacterias identity, developed a phylogenetic tree, read

primary literature to investigate the roles of bacteria in establishment of a healthy microbiome.

During that time, I learned to balance my responsibilities as a student with my mental and

physical needs, develop self- control, and open my mind to think in new ways. Everyone had a

fire and pride for what they loved. My confidence and abilities grew, but I also knew to seek help

when necessary. In the final week, we presented our findings at a symposium (poster session) to
other MITES participants, sponsors, and MIT affiliates. All research conducted was under

classroom instruction of Dr. Mary Piper and several teaching assistants.

During the fall semester of 2014, as a part of my high schools internship program, I

worked at the University of Maryland College Parks Department of Chemical and Biomolecular

Engineering, under Dr. Sheryl Ehrman for about six weeks. I did not conduct experiments;

rather, I was given access to scientific journals and conducted my own literary research on the

cytotoxicity of nanoparticles and compared data between journal articles to find correlations in

toxicity and physical properties of the nanoparticles studied. I had learned how to read and

understand journal articles at MITES, but here I learned to critique journals to identify the

support and holes in the argument. At the end of my internship, I gave a brief presentation on my

findings for school credit. My interest in nanoparticle research started here and currently thrives-

much of what Ive learned about lab techniques and recent experiments are from books and

seminars presented by researchers who are invited by Howard Universitys Chemistry and

Physics departments. Although my undergraduate education so far in General Chemistry I & II,

Physics I & II, and Calculus II is not enough to understand everything presented, upperclassmen

in the American Chemical Society and Society of Physics Students help explain concepts. These

organizations are also wonderful sources of advice for students who may not have lab experience

or face difficulties as minorities, being female, first generation, etc. Thankfully, studying at a

female- majority, historically black college has taken away many of these difficulties, but as a

first generation freshman student, I hope to gain knowledge and experience that I cannot learn on

my own.

As a Muslim, Ethiopian American female with Arab and Indian roots, I grew up with

several cultures, easily switching back and forth when appropriate. My parents spoke Amharic,
so I had to learn English at the age of three through television and books. I learned to read, speak

and write Arabic in school, watched Korean dramas, loved Korean music, and was first

introduced to Japanese culture through martial arts and in the form of manga and anime. My

interest in Japan gradually grew throughout my childhood. I took karate and jujitsu classes for 6

years until college, and am now taking Judo. In elementary and middle school, Id spend hours

watching anime, and in high school, Japanese dramas, movies, and music, to the point where I

had a basic understanding of the Japanese language and taught English to three Japanese children

at my librarys Homework Help Club. I am currently in a Japanese language 001 class (it is not

yet on my unofficial transcript because I had registered late), and am in the Japanese Culture

Club, Muslim Student Association, Interfaith Fellows, and Korean Culture Club, all cultures I am

familiar with and enthusiastic about.

However, I really wanted to go to Japan after I volunteered at the Sakura Matsuri

Japanese Street Festival in Washington, DC during April 2014. There, between the rock music

performances and food stalls, presentations were given on research being done in JAXA

(Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency) with electron microscopes and earth observation data,

and a language translation device for cell phones. United States- Japan relations were greatly

encouraged; I realized that science was a universal language and wanted a way to, not study

abroad in Japan, but conduct research at a Japanese laboratory. I find the Nakatani RIES

(Research & International Experiences for Students) to be a stellar opportunity for the

application of classroom concepts through independent and interdisciplinary research in labs that

can offer diverse views, as well as opportunity for growth as a professional researcher through

United States- Japan relations. The United States and Japan have had over 40 years of
collaborations in space science, medical science, business, natural resources, and environmental

protection programs. Japan leads the world on a per capita basis in full time researchers and

nondefense research, and contributes

I believe international collaborations force participants to see the world from another

perspective, which can benefit both participants and the projects outcome. Language barriers

and differences in lab culture are trivial to the open-minded, tolerant and determined. I, myself,

am a fusion of cultures, languages, majors, and interests. After graduation, I will obtain my Ph.D.

in an interdisciplinary field combining chemistry and physics, such as chemical physics, material

science, or atomic physics, and use it to push boundaries and explore new ideas in an

international setting, and eventually start my own company based on researched applications.

While many other countries also team with the United States, Japan is my first choice in

collaboration because the countrys science and technology outputs are astonishing, growing

significantly in its contribution to the worlds scientific literature and patents. The Nakatani RIES

would allow me to form contacts that can be revisited in the future and learn to adjust myself to

the Japanese culture and expectations, as well as conduct research in interesting or unfamiliar

fields.