"My name is Faye Joseph, and I have had the privilege of participating in the Injury Science REU internship program at CHOP. I was honestly a little nervous coming in, as I had never done something like this before. Once I got here, I realized immediately that this was not a place of intimidation and stress, but instead a space where growth is facilitated and kindness is the standard.

Throughout my time here, I had the opportunity of learning more than I ever thought I could fit into a summer. In Dr. Cohen's lab, I was able to learn how to work with mice. This included handling them and preforming tests such as Contextual Fear Conditioning, as well as skills outside of the mice, like making chemical mixtures, analyzing data, and reviewing scientific articles before they are published.

While all of this knowledge is incredibly valuable, I got something else very special out of this experience as well: a better sense of self in the professional world. Navigating your future is hard, but this program provided me with all the possible tools in order to help me figure it out. From meetings providing us with insight into a variety of successful career paths, to activities that show us different communication styles in the workplace, this program provided me with the most growth-filled 10 weeks of my life.

I would not be where I am today without the help of the people that I have met during this experience. Thank you to the REU program for giving me this opportunity!"

Research Experiences for Undergraduates Student (Summer 2025)