EschLEAD scholar Brayden Olsen, a senior majoring in microbiology, has gained invaluable research experience through the College of Veterinary Medicine. Working in the labs of Drs. Heather Koehler and Nathan Law, he has had the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to real-world scientific challenges.
The EschLEAD (Learn, Experience, Apply, Deliver) program is designed to provide undergraduates from all backgrounds with immersive, hands-on research experiences. By combining mentorship, skill-building, and real-world applications, EschLEAD helps students explore careers at the intersection of science, business, and innovation.
Brayden recently shared insights into his experiences in the program and how it has shaped his academic and career goals.
Has participating in the EschLEAD program changed how you view science and research?
The program has allowed me to be a part of two different laboratories and it has given me insight that all mentors work differently to accomplish the same goal, solving unanswered scientific research questions. It has also shown me that laboratories use different techniques to determine the same result with different advantages and disadvantages to every experiment.
Can you describe a specific project or activity that challenged or excited you?
Being in a laboratory is exciting, and when you spend all week devoting your time to experiments and get your predicted result, it is an unmatched sensation. With this, though, comes difficult times of struggle where your experiments yield results that are unpredicted and difficult to understand. It builds your scientific thinking skills, so it may be frustrating in the moment, when you finally have a wanted end result it makes the “failed” experiment a much more valuable experience.
What are your plans after graduation?
I have applied to graduate schools with hopes of achieving a PhD. The EschLEAD program has allowed me to build my skillset along with experience multiple mentoring styles to make myself more self-aware of what I specifically need when finding a mentor in graduate school.
How has your involvement in the program connected you with other students, faculty, alumni, or professionals in the field?
The EschLEAD program has allowed me to connect with undergraduate and graduate students in other laboratories and hear about the ongoing research at WSU outside of the laboratories I am involved with. It is a great experience to talk and hear others research because it often sparks ideas for myself and what I can do to improve my research projects.
What advice would you give to future students interested in undergraduate research and/or joining the EschLEAD program?
Join! Attaining research experience can be applicable and eye-catching to all employers because research expands how someone will critically think to fix protocols. Being able to answer problems in different ways is the key to driving success, whether it is in a laboratory or in a business, and research builds these skills intensively. The EschLEAD laboratories also give a great opportunity to work on communication skills to present your knowledge in a field in a way that not only experts can understand but also high school students, and that can make an impact going forward in someone’s career.