Patricia Garza, a senior in the Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Program at Texas State University, recently completed a highly competitive summer undergraduate research internship with the Houston Methodist Academic Institute.
She was one of 50 students selected from a pool of more than 1,000 and is the first TXST MLS student selected for the internship.
“I could not be more proud of Patricia Garza for earning a spot in the undergraduate research internship,” said Rodney E. Rohde, Ph.D., Regents’ Professor and chair of the MLS program. “Her hard work, curiosity, and professionalism are exactly what we strive to cultivate in our Medical Laboratory Science program. Patricia’s success reflects not only her own dedication, but also the growing impact our Bobcats are making in advancing research and patient care.”
Garza was seeking hands-on experience in the research field to further develop her skills and practice laboratory techniques, so she thought the internship would be the perfect opportunity for her.
“This program is so renowned and competitive, and I really wanted to be in the Texas Medical Center in Houston as well,” Garza said. “The program was just a good fit for me.”
During the internship, Garza was placed in the Department of Neurosurgery Hedge Lab under principal investigator Muralidhar Hegde, Ph.D. She focused her research on examining the role of the FUS (fused in sarcoma) protein, which is often mutated in ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).
“We were trying to understand and analyze the way it affects DNA repair mechanisms, specifically a process called PARylation, and also its effects on different cellular energy levels,” she said.
As part of her coursework at TXST, Garza takes part in a dengue virus dengue virus (a mosquito-borne viral infection) research study for Adeyemi Olanrewaju, Ph.D., assistant professor in the MLS program. This study provided a foundation for her internship and a greater appreciation for the research side of the medical field.
“All treatment and medicine begin with research,” she said. “I also learned different laboratory techniques, like cell culture and fractionation, western blot analysis, and confocal microscopy. Research is not a linear thing. Experiments may not go your way and may be imperfect, but the learning process is invaluable.”
After reflecting on her experience with the internship over the summer, Garza said her favorite parts were the people she connected with, including her mentor Manohar Kodavati, Ph.D., instructor at Houston Methodist Academic Institute, who instilled trust in her and allowed her greater independence and responsibility.
She was also awarded the Research Excellence Award, which is given to five students in the internship program. The award highlights a student's dedication, innovation, and excellence throughout the program.