Jada
Jada
Cristo Rey Boston High School
Boston, MA
Mentor:
Anthony Fazio
PRISM
Jada entered BSSP eager to contribute to a project where careful technical optimization could have a direct, lasting impact. In the PRISM team, she worked to develop a backup protocol for a critical “lysate collapse” step in the Extended PRISM Screen (EPS), which screens pooled cancer cell lines against drug libraries to identify potential therapies.
This step, previously performed on a Hamilton STARlet liquid handler, was at risk due to the machine’s age and limited availability. Jada trained in robotic liquid handling, PCR, sequencing library preparation, and tissue culture using the PK-1 training cell line. She tested different tip types, mixing speeds, and cycle numbers on the Hamilton STAR to match STARlet quality. After processing EPS lysate pools, she performed PCR to amplify DNA barcodes, prepared sequencing libraries, and compared her results to historical STARlet data.
Her optimization confirmed that, with adjusted mixing cycles and strategic tip changes, the STAR could produce lysates on par with STARlet quality. This validated backup protocol ensures EPS can continue running efficiently even in the face of equipment failures.
“BSSP was an unforgettable experience… Participating secured my confidence in pursuing a career in the sciences,” Jada reflected. The project gave her both the technical skills and the satisfaction of creating a solution with immediate value for ӳý’s drug discovery pipeline.
