Two Paths, One Mentor: How a PNRI Internship Helped Launch Careers in Medicine and Research 

One is preparing to begin medical school at the University of Massachusetts T.H. Chan School of Medicine. The other is pursuing a PhD in molecular medicine at the University of Washington.

Just a few years ago, Kate Helle and Lidiia Gagarina were undergraduate students participating in PNRI’s Summer Undergraduate Research Internship (SURI) program.

Today, their paths are now taking them in different directions—Kate toward patient care and Lidiia toward scientific discovery. But both trace part of that journey back to the same formative experience: working in the lab of PNRI Associate Investigator Cláudia Carvalho, PhD.

Finding Their Place in Science

Kate grew up in the Chicago area, where an early interest in biology and medicine gradually evolved into a passion for scientific discovery. As a teenager, she spent a summer conducting Alzheimer’s research and discovered how much she enjoyed asking scientific questions and searching for answers. When she arrived at the University of Washington, she began looking for opportunities that would help her better understand the intersection of genetics, research, and patient care.

Lidiia’s path began in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where she developed a love of science but had little exposure to biomedical research careers. As a teenager, she remembers being fascinated by the idea of scientists as real people doing meaningful work. After moving to the United States, attending community college, and later transferring to the University of Washington, she became increasingly drawn to biology and human genetics.

By the time she applied to PNRI’s internship program, Lidiia was eager for hands-on experience. She was also drawn to PNRI’s smaller, close-knit environment, where she saw an opportunity to interact directly with scientists and mentors.

A Mentor Who Opens Doors

Ask either Kate or Lidiia what stands out most about their time at PNRI, and the answer comes quickly: Cláudia Carvalho.

For many undergraduate researchers, opportunities to interact directly with a principal investigator can be limited. Kate and Lidiia experienced something different.

Dr. Carvalho made time to teach. She reviewed data, answered questions, explained concepts, and encouraged students to think critically about their work. More importantly, she helped them see themselves as contributors to science.

Kate remembers being inspired not only by Dr. Carvalho’s expertise, but by the energy and curiosity she brought to the lab. “Not only did I get to experience her brain, but I got to experience her passion,” Kate said. “It was authentic love for science and people and discovery.”

Lidiia recalls that even as an undergraduate, she felt her questions were taken seriously. “She always found time to sit down with me and explain things,” Lidiia said. “I really appreciated that.”

Dr. Carvalho’s commitment to mentorship is rooted in her belief that science is fundamentally collaborative. “Science is a social experience,” Dr. Carvalho said. “Collaborations are key to the science we do—not only with other scientists, but with families, doctors, students, and trainees.”

For Lidiia, Dr. Carvalho’s example carried another layer of meaning. As someone who came to the U.S. from another country and spoke English as a second language, Lidiia saw in Dr. Carvalho a model of what was possible.

“She came from Brazil, and I can really relate to it,” Lidiia said. “Even if English is your second language, even if you’re a woman, you can become a PI. Cláudia is a huge source of inspiration.”

Helping young scientists discover their place within the scientific community has become one of the most rewarding parts of Dr. Carvalho’s career.

“Mentorship is key to science. We need to train the next generation,” Dr. Carvalho said. “It’s a pleasure to bring students into the field and watch them grow. We have a responsibility to educate, share what we learn, and help prepare the next generation of scientists.”

Learning by Doing

The SURI program provided students with far more than a chance to observe research.

Kate and Lidiia were trusted with meaningful projects and encouraged to contribute to ongoing investigations in rare disease genetics. Along the way, they learned how to analyze data, review scientific literature, present findings, and communicate complex ideas.

At the end of their internships, both presented their research projects at PNRI’s annual intern symposium, gaining valuable experience sharing their work with scientists, mentors, and peers.

Their contributions continued well beyond the summer. Over the following years, Kate and Lidiia became co-authors on multiple scientific publications from the Carvalho Lab. Among them was a study published in Genome Medicine, one of the leading journals in human genetics and genomic medicine.

Kate achieved another milestone when she became first author on a study recently accepted for publication in the American Journal of Medical Genetics—a significant accomplishment for an early-career researcher and a reflection of the increasing responsibility she assumed during her time in the lab.

Seeing the Human Impact of Research

For Kate, one of the most influential experiences during her time at PNRI took place outside the laboratory.

Through her work in rare disease genetics, she became part of a community dedicated to helping families find answers to some of medicine’s most challenging questions. That connection came into sharper focus during PNRI’s Rare Disease Day Symposium, where researchers, clinicians, patients, and families gathered to share their experiences.

“We heard all these beautiful stories of scientists and physicians and then the families and the team that they created and the way research impacted their lives,” Kate recalled. “That was beautiful. It makes the whole thing so worth it.”

The experience helped her understand how scientific discovery translates into real-world impact. “Seeing where my skills best fit on the team and also seeing how the whole team works together kind of solidified my interest in medicine,” she said. “The ability to change things—science, lives, the world—that’s where I wanted to be.”

For Kate, rare disease research revealed something powerful: progress happens when scientists, physicians, patients, and families work together. It is a lesson she will carry with her into medical school and throughout her career.

Discovering a Future in Research

For Lidiia, the internship helped clarify a different path.

PNRI was her first experience working in what she describes as a “real” research environment. In the Carvalho Lab, she worked with rare disease data and patient samples, gaining hands-on experience with the tools scientists use to search for genetic answers.

The experience deepened her interest in human genetics and introduced her to the challenges and opportunities of rare disease research. “It really helped me a lot,” Lidiia said. “It sparked my interest in genetics even more—in human genetics, particularly, and the genetics of rare diseases.”

The internship also helped her explore what kind of scientist she wanted to become. Through PNRI’s weekly Lunch & Learn sessions, she met researchers with a wide range of career paths, including principal investigators, PhD scientists, and professionals with master’s degrees. Those conversations gave her a clearer picture of what graduate school could look like and how many different ways there are to build a career in science.

At the time, Lidiia was not certain she wanted to pursue a PhD. The internship helped change that. “It definitely shaped my pathway,” she said. “Hearing from people with different career paths and being able to ask questions in such a supportive environment helped me realize that pursuing a PhD was something I wanted to do.”

Today, Lidiia is a PhD candidate in the Molecular Medicine and Mechanisms of Disease program at the University of Washington, where she studies gene therapy. Her research focuses on developing technologies that could help make advanced gene therapies more accessible and affordable for patients.

Although her work now combines genetics, virology, and therapeutic delivery, she says the foundation she gained at PNRI continues to serve her. “Even now, when I go to different talks, I’m like, ‘Oh, I understand,’” she said. “And it’s because of Cláudia, because of the work that I did in her lab.”

A Lasting Legacy

This fall, Kate will begin medical school at the University of Massachusetts T.H. Chan School of Medicine. Lidiia is continuing her PhD training at the University of Washington, where she is helping advance the future of gene therapy.

Both point to their time at PNRI as a turning point—a place where they gained hands-on research experience, learned from dedicated mentors, and began to see what their futures could hold.

Their stories are a reminder that great scientists make discoveries, but great mentors multiply them.