Drashti Sikligar, Bioengineering Junior
Cancer Scholars Program, 2018 Cohort
Hometown: Hoffman Estates
Do you have current or past experience working in a cancer research laboratory? If so, who was the principle investigator, and what was your role/area of research?
For the past year I have been working in Professor Bhargava’s lab working under Kianoush Falahkheirkhah. I’ve learned a lot using MATLAB and image manipulation and registration, specifically with tissue images.
What first led you to your interest in science?
As a kid, I used to sit next to my dad if he was putting together furniture or fixing his computer, asking him how everything he was holding worked. His explanations usually led to more questions, and my dad would always do his best to answer as much as he could. That led me to asking questions about how more stuff worked, to how nature worked, to how we knew it worked that way. From there, I loved to learn about any science topic because I knew I’d always have more to learn.
What are you most looking forward to as a student in the Cancer Scholars Program?
I’m excited to see the program grow! Coming in as a freshman, it can feel like you’re simultaneously extremely close and far from cutting edge research that makes a huge difference in the future of science. I know having this opportunity as a freshman made me feel a lot more excited, confident, and motivated to succeed while being able to contribute to something much larger and important!
What do you hope to do in the future? What are your goals professionally?
I hope to go in medicine, in a field where I can continue to innovate while being able to directly better others’ lives!
What are your personal interests or hobbies?
I love to knit and crochet!