Kyu Jin Youm, a biology major and member of the Honors College at Washington State University, is preparing for a future in medicine with the help of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s EschLEAD program. Youm recently joined the Baylink Lab – which is focused on developing atomic-level precision medicines against deadly pathogens – as an EschLEAD scholar.
The EschLEAD (Learn, Experience, Apply, Deliver) program is pioneering initiative — open to WSU undergraduate students from all backgrounds, experiences, and academic disciplines — designed to provide undergraduates with immersive, hands-on learning in real-world research environments in the college’s leading labs. EschLEAD combines skill-building, real-world applications, and mentorship to empower students to explore, grow, and create their own paths to success.
What has been the most valuable experience in the EschLEAD program so far?
Being able to see the progress made by everyone in the lab is exciting. It often takes time to find something in our experiments that is useful in application for drug manufacturing, but every step we take forward is a step toward a product increasing life quality.
How has your involvement in the program connected you with other students, faculty, alumni, or professionals in the field?
It has led me to learn about new research and meet new professors and graduate students who are extremely dedicated to their goals. Being around people who are able to advance science in medicine to such a degree is an inspiration to me as I have just started this journey.
How do you see the EschLEAD program shaping your future career goals?
I believe that it will help me to be a more knowledgeable graduate student as I transition to a more patient-focused career in medical school. Understanding the process of developing drugs for illness is important as a physician and will help me highlight the importance of drug applications to my patients.
What are your plans after graduation, and how is the program helping you prepare for them?
I am planning to go on to medical school, with an interest in internal medicine. Being able to learn about the procedure of research gives insight into the partnership between pharmaceuticals and medicine. It also helps challenge my critical thinking skills and supports the appreciation of evidence-based medicine.
What advice would you give to future students interested in undergraduate research and/or joining the EschLEAD program?
Don’t be afraid to reach out and email professors whose work you are truly interested in. Be clear and upfront about your stance as an undergraduate student while asserting your interest to develop knowledge and skills in a research lab.
Interested in becoming an EschLEAD scholar? Contact one of our EschLEAD faculty to learn more.