Scientific Pursuit
Ohio Wesleyan Student Completes Biotechnology-Based Research Internship at Washington State University
Name: Kavyanjali Sidhanta '28
Hometown: Mumbai, India
High school: RiverDale International Residential School
Majors: Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Pre-Med
OWU Connection Experience: Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) sponsored by the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET).
During her three-month internship, Sidhanta completed a biotechnology-based research internship at Washington State University (WSU) College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Spokane.
She was one of only five undergraduate students accepted into the university's 2026 SURF program.
Being in a lab and doing exciting research is my equivalent of being a kid in a candy shop, and I get to do exactly that.
Why This Opportunity?
"I aspire to be a scientist in the field of biomedical research and innovate groundbreaking medicine. I am particularly interested in learning and working with autoimmune and degenerative diseases like arthritis. Being in a lab and doing exciting research is my equivalent of being a kid in a candy shop, and I get to do exactly that.
"I participated in research at Dr. Annie Du's lab, which focused on the development of microneedles, an up-and-coming targeted drug delivery system, for the localized delivery of drugs for several diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, melanoma, wound healing, and ocular diseases.
"Specifically, my experience focused on learning how to fabricate microneedles and study their release mechanics. I conducted various experiments I had never done before, including using UV-vis spectroscopy to study the release-rate mechanics of the needles I made and testing the delivery of a drug being studied for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis."
My Favorite Moment
"I think it was when I took a beat to take it all in. It was insane how far I had come. The Kavya of three years ago would not have believed the sheer number of achievements I had made.
"I am thousands of miles away from my home, learning how to make groundbreaking biotechnological instruments, in a totally new city, in a new state, in a new country, and I was navigating it all alone. I never considered how brave, strong, and patient I had to be until I stood there taking in just how small I was; yet I had achieved so much more than I could dream of."
Lessons Learned
"Walking into this experience, I was not sure what exactly to expect, but it was definitely not what I thought. One of the first lessons I learned was that research is not linear; my project changed multiple times throughout the eight weeks, and admittedly I found myself getting very frustrated; however, I walked away with a whole lot of patience.
"I also found myself at a desk way more than I expected, but now I have also developed a more nuanced way of studying a large amount of scientific literature more efficiently.
"Surprisingly, all the practicalities and new lab work I learned were the easiest part of my experience, and obviously the most meaningful and fun. In addition to our research, I also got to attend weekly seminars, which equipped me with lots of unique knowledge regarding grad schools and Ph.D. programs, and it may also have opened a potential choice for me to actually get a Ph.D."
My Campus Involvements
"President of Circle K International; member of Horizons, the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students, Model United Nations, Women in STEM, and Cru."
Why Ohio Wesleyan?
"Everyone here at OWU is dedicated to helping you be successful, and the community is truly nurturing. I also really appreciate the holistic approach of a liberal arts education that allows me to take fun classes alongside some of my more serious STEM classes."
My Plans After Graduation
"I plan to get a job in the research industry and move to either somewhere in Europe or New Zealand. OWU is not only helping me excel academically, but also the Career Connection has been helping with the continued pursuit of professional improvement."