Stephanie Deng (2021)

Stephanie Deng graduated in 2021 from the College of Human Ecology with a major in Human Biology, Health, and Society.  She is currently a Research Technician in Dr. Catherine Wu’s lab at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. 

As a Rawlings Cornell Presidential Scholar (RCPRS) and alum, Stephanie recently reflected on her time as an undergrad and on how the benefits of RCPRS have impacted her research journey. Stephanie’s use of the program’s Research Support Account (RSA) funding enabled her to develop and pursue an independent research project, present at research conferences, and publish papers as an undergraduate student. Post-graduation, Stephanie continues to strengthen those skills learned by designing and conducting biomedical experiments in the lab and collaborating with research team members for data analysis and paper manuscript preparation.

Stephanie credits being a member of RCPRS enabled her to pursue an extensive undergraduate research experience as the lead researcher for her project, which confirmed her interest in pursuing a research career. In particular, the work supported by her RSA nurtured her interest in translational research and medicine, bridging the gap to translate and apply research findings to directly help patient populations in need. With an initial focus on pursuing a career as a physician, Stephanie’s research work would lead her to discover an interest in becoming a physician-scientist, a role that she had not considered prior to joining RCPRS and gaining enriching research experience.

Stephanie advises current students to make the most of the support account funding provided to Rawlings Scholars to pursue questions that are personally meaningful. “It is rare to receive such research support that is essentially unconditional with regard to research topics. In addition to the funding, access to upperclassmen and alumni made possible through Rawlings serves as a valuable resource for mentorship and guidance since they may have walked similar paths as current scholars and learned many lessons along the way.”  

Last, Stephanie notes that planning and pursuing a meaningful research project as a Rawlings Scholar is largely influenced by the quality of the mentorship experience. “It is important to seek out a research mentor(s) who is invested in the quality of the mentee’s learning and training experience, and it is equally important for the student to be proactive in learning how to be a good mentee. Among many traits of being a proactive, teachable mentee are being unafraid of asking questions to deepen understanding, receptive to constructive criticism, and persistent in seeking improvement and growth.”

If you would like to contact Stephanie to ask questions about RCPRS, her Cornell experience, or pursuing gap years before medical/graduate school, she can be reached at sld224@cornell.edu.