Zenon Cieslak, a graduate of Shaler Area High School, spent seven weeks at Pitt this summer gaining hands-on research experience through the CompBio Academy.
Cieslak, who will study computational biology at Colby College in Maine this fall, wanted to strengthen his computer programming skills before heading off to college.
As a result of CompBio Academy, he went from zero programming experience to being able to complete a project with the assistance of mentors Alex DiBiasi and Jim Faeder. “I really think that implementing and designing a software program to achieve a specific goal lets me get a foot in the door and see what the real programming world is like,” Cieslak said.
He also learned more about career pathways and future opportunities. CompBio Academy, a division of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Academy, introduces students to emerging fields of research that use computational and experimental approaches.
Cieslak worked in Associate Professor Jim Faeder’s lab on a project applying BioNetGen software to create a non-spatial model for cancer-fighting T cells. The team then compared this model to another published spatial model. While learning about the intersection of computational biology and cancer research, Cieslak got a glimpse into the everyday life of a scientist.
“I hadn’t done any of these summer research programs before, and when I was in high school I just didn’t think that college was for me,” Cieslak said. “But after doing this program now and seeing what it’s like, I can make a more informed decision that college is for me.”
Cieslak and a group of CompBio Academy students
In the downtime between lab meetings and journal clubs, Cieslak also enjoyed connecting with his CompBio Academy cohort over social hours and ping pong tournaments. He made friends who are interested in pursuing similar career paths.
As Cieslak prepares to begin his freshman year of college, he is looking forward to snowboarding in Maine and exploring the biotechnology industry through his classes.
“I didn’t really know what to expect going into this, but I’m glad that I did do this program,” he said. “I discovered that I really like the critical thinking aspects of comp bio.”