For my project, I joined the 2024 iGEM team. Our team’s goal for iGEM 2024 was to make Puerarin easier to cultivate so that medicine for Alzheimer’s would be more affordable. This was my first experience working in an actual lab environment, rather than something DIY with improvised equipment.

Initially, I had joined iGEM for the lab opportunities and was under the impression that I’d just be going into the lab to do some work—and nothing else—because that’s what I thought a project of this scale would be. Needless to say, I was wrong. I struggled to get any work done and realized how even my minor contributions were affecting the team. It was only when I started to collaborate more and put in greater effort that I began to see progress.

I also came to appreciate how important it was to have a team with different personalities and skill sets. Each person brought something unique, and that diversity played a huge role in our success. It made me reflect on my own understanding of teamwork. I realized that working collaboratively had a much bigger impact than just showing up to do my part in the lab. Teamwork not only made the project more efficient and productive—it also helped cover for areas where I lacked experience or skill.

The fruits of our efforts cemented these lessons. We went from being at risk of not earning a medal to reaching the gold standard (we were one of the only high school teams to get a gold medal!). Overall, iGEM completely shifted my view of scientific research and the collaboration that happens behind the scenes. After spending eight intense months with this amazing team, I came away a better team player, a more confident researcher, and more excited than ever to pursue my studies in medicine.