Adade ’22 to Conduct Research at Broad Institute Cell Observatory

Why did you decide to pursue research, and what drew you to the Broad Institute’s Klarman Cell Observatory?

I decided to pursue research after attending the Annual Biomedical Conference for Minority Students in Anaheim, Calif., in 2019. That conference was the first time I saw many Black and Brown scientists in one room. Walking around during poster sessions and going to talks made research seem exciting. I was fascinated by what others could do with the information we learned in class and sought to do the same by doing research at Hamilton.

I was drawn to the Broad by my advisor, Max Majireck, who did his postdoctoral work there. The name kept coming up during my time at Hamilton as at least one graduating senior went to work at the Broad for a few years. I looked into the positions they had available and was drawn by the structure they have to develop and equip early career researchers.

What Hamilton experiences helped prepare you for this career path?

In terms of classes, Super Lab (research methods in chemistry) and Organic Synthesis Toward Improved Human Health increased my scientific writing skills and overall confidence in conducting and presenting research. Doing research in the Chemistry Department has exposed me to many research fields and lab techniques, like photocatalysis, which is the basis of my senior thesis. Professors Majireck and [Wesley] Kramer taught me a lot about the essential nature of patience, perseverance, and diligence in research, which are all skills I’ll bring into my new role. 

What are your long-term career plans or goals, and how do you think research experience will prepare you for future success?

I plan to pursue an M.D.-Ph.D. in the future, and conducting research at Broad will prepare me for the Ph.D. aspect. I hope that doing biology research will help me identify some research fields and niches that excite me and might guide the kind of research I seek to do in graduate school.

Professors [Max] Majireck and [Wesley] Kramer taught me a lot about the essential nature of patience, perseverance, and diligence in research, which are all skills I’ll bring into my new role.

What aspects of your new position are you looking forward to the most?

I’m excited to dive into my project and find ways to utilize my chemistry background to benefit my biology work. I am also excited to start working at the Broad with a member of my Posse (Hamilton Boston Posse ’18), Lea Barros.

What advice would you give to students interested in pursuing cell research?

As someone who did mainly chemistry research at Hamilton, I don’t know that I have the best advice on Hamilton resources for cell research. However, I will say that students should try to get research internships at universities that have graduate programs they are interested in. Conducting cell biology research under the University of Pennsylvania Biomedical Graduate Programs was pivotal to attaining this position. It exposed me to a new area of research at the graduate level, where I worked alongside Ph.D. candidates and the PI (head of the lab) on a cancer project. I got to see what it is like to do research at graduate institutions and had many conversations with graduate students to better understand the programs and evaluate if it is the right path for me.