Over the summer, six eager undergrads set forth on a pilgrimage of scientific discovery at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy.
The inaugural cohort of Nelson-Mendenhall Summer Scholars has emerged on the other side of an inspiring experience rooted in cutting-edge research and providing the kind of priceless perspective shifts that only come in college – one that’s transformed their perspective on pharmacy, science and the future.
Launched in June 2024, the Nelson-Mendenhall Summer Scholars Program (NMP) offers undergraduate students the rare opportunity to pursue high-level research under the mentorship of first-rate faculty and researchers from the UW School of Pharmacy.
Designed to inspire the next generation of healthcare innovators and underrepresented communities in STEM, the Summer Scholars Program provides students with funded, hands-on experience in the lab as they tackle the most pressing medical challenges of our time.
Supported by a $7,500 stipend, our Summer Scholars immersed themselves in meaningful work, from developing an HIV vaccine to understanding the effects of medications on babies in utero. Before the first cohort kicked off in June, applicants submitted a statement of purpose, a resume and the names of two references to be considered for this unique opportunity.
For first-generation college students like Claire Truongdang, a biochemistry major at UW Bothell, the Summer Scholars Program was a lifeline in more ways than one: “When I found out I was selected, I was extremely happy – I even missed my bus stop that morning! My mom was laid off this summer when her company moved out of state. It gave us a lot of stress. Thanks to the Summer Scholars Program, the stipend helped us keep up with our bills during a tough time.”
Claire’s work in the lab this past summer – RNA extraction from placenta tissue – gave her a new perspective on interdisciplinary research and how it could shape her future in medicine.
“This project helped me align my interest in chemistry to the career path I’m pursuing in medicine,” she said. “I see myself doing interdisciplinary work that connects clinical and scientific questions. Through my work in the lab, I came to realize that science is rarely focused on female bodies, nor do researchers put female bodies at the center of their scientific process. I want to address these questions and the limitations of our current system.”
When you ask Vincent Chan – a biochemistry major at Seattle University – about his experience in the program, he’ll tell you it was a huge step toward his dream of earning a PhD in pharmaceutics.
“This research gave me hands-on experience with drug formulation and delivery, which is foundational for my future plans,” he said. “I applied because I was eager to get more lab experience. When I found out I was selected, I was absolutely over the moon! It felt like a huge opportunity to advance in my academic goal.”
Vincent, whose research focused on the synthesis of polymeric prodrug nanoparticles for drug delivery, found that the program pushed him to grow as both a scientist and a researcher. “I learned how detailed and innovative pharmacy research needs to be, especially when working on advanced drug delivery methods,” he said, noting that the unpredictability of nanoparticle sizes challenged him to think more critically and adaptively. Vincent added that this hands-on experience brought him one step closer to his goal of becoming Dr. Vincent Chan.
Sydney Arnzen, another biochemistry major, had a deeply personal connection to her work in the lab of Dr. Ed Kelly, which focused on the transport of nephrotoxic mycotoxins – organic contaminants in the body that can cause kidney damage.
“Kidney disease runs in my family, so research like this hits close to home,” Sydney explained. “Working in a lab that revolves around kidney health is a great source of pride for me and the people I love.”
As one who knew she was destined to help others through science, pursuing research has always been a passion for Sydney. “Through my coursework at the UW, I learned about the world of pharmacy and the breadth of research and impact happening there,” she reflected. “I committed myself to finding a niche in research that helped others and fulfilled my own passions. This led me to drug discovery, medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutics. Research has given me the opportunity to make life-sized impact through microscopic means.”
For Sarah Stone of Eastern Washington University, the Summer Scholars Program offered her the opportunity to dive headfirst into research, immersing herself fully for the very first time. “I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy research as a career because I could never focus on it during the school year,” she admitted. “Having this kind of preview into lab work really settled those doubts by allowing me to give it my full, undivided attention.”
Working in the lab of Dr. Rodney Ho, Sarah’s summer research involved pancreatic cancer cells, which required her to develop new lab skills and gave her a better understanding of the complexity of experimental design. “I asked to work with Dr. Ho because his lab seemed to be doing more chemistry-based research, and I thought it would mesh well with my lab experience,” she said “I wound up doing cell culturing with pancreatic cancer cells, then doing cell viability assays after treatment with antibodies. I’m likely going to be using similar techniques in the near future, and cell culture training can take a while since you’re limited by the growth rate of the cells.It’s an incredibly valuable skill to have that I’m fairly certain I’m going to need in my career.”
These opportunities were made possible through the generosity of Doug Mendenhall, a community-minded alumnus of the School of Pharmacy, whose own celebrated career in pharmaceutical chemistry was shaped by a similar experience.
Encouraged by his friend and fellow undergraduate, Sid Nelson – who would later become Dean of the School of Pharmacy from 1994 to 2008 – Doug embarked on a summer research internship that ignited his passion for scientific discovery. Their friendship and mutual inspiration continued to shape Doug’s journey, personally and professionally, for years to come. He made significant contributions to the development of 70 marketed products, with his innovations reflected in three patents.
“That program was very impactful for me,” remarked Doug. “I always had a significant box to check in my estate planning – I’m going to give back to the schools that allowed me to get where I am. That was always a given. It was just a question of what to do.”
Cut to today, and Doug is paying it forward. By endowing this program, he has ensured that promising students have access to the same kind of transformational experiences that launched his career so many years ago.
The inaugural class of Nelson-Mendenhall Summer Scholars worked alongside top researchers at the University of Washington, building skills and making discoveries that will fuel their academic and professional futures. Doug’s vision for the program is simple – to provide students from diverse backgrounds with access to research opportunities they wouldn’t have encountered otherwise.
“I wanted to ensure our first cohort of students came from beyond the University of Washington,” he remarked, elaborating on his belief in diversity of thought for better research, and expanded career possibilities for students.
Claire, for example, discovered how even the smallest moments in the lab could have a major impact: “At one point, I realized that my sample storage methods were causing bad data. It reminded me of my fundamental chemistry coursework and how important that basic knowledge is.”
Given her family history with kidney disease, Sydney’s time in the Kelly Lab gave her a new sense of passion and purpose. “On one of my first days in the lab, I sat down with Dr. Kelly and we talked about the gene that caused my father’s Polycystic Kidney Disease. It was incredible to hear about the real progress being made,” she recalled. “I’ve never been so proud to work in this space.” Sydney plans to continue working with the Kelly Lab through the school year, building on the knowledge and skills she developed over the summer as a result of NMP.
Beyond the skill-sharpening, career-building and memory-making, the Summer Scholars Program instilled a deep sense of community for those who took part.
In the lab of Dr. Shijie Cao, Vincent described the environment as a “close-knit” space where he worked closely with graduate students and faculty. “They consistently offer insights and share their knowledge every day,” he said. “Their guidance and support was crucial to my project.” Similarly, Sydney was moved by the outreach and mentorship she received during her experience over the summer: “The Kelly Lab is passionate about nurturing future scientists, and I’ve been supported in every way,” Sydney stated. “I especially appreciate the moments spent discussing my passions and having mentors take time out of their day to put me on the path toward my dreams. I know the connections I made this summer will guide me into the next stages of my career.”
For Doug, this kind of mentorship is precisely what he envisioned when he created the program. “Pharmacy is very structured… Because there’s a good, reliable professional endpoint, there’s little reason to deviate from that path,” he explained.
Doug’s hope for the Nelson-Mendenhall Summer Scholars Program is straightforward: to broaden students’ horizons, open doors to research and introduce career opportunities beyond the traditional paths of pharmacy. “As a student in STEM, if you get the chance to look into some lesser known directions to take your career, you might say, ‘I want to try that.’ And that was the whole idea – opening doors for bright students to consider directions for their career they never knew existed.”
With the first year of the Summer Scholars Program in the rearview, Doug sees our success as the beginning of an impactful legacy. “This is a great seed program – money well spent,” he stated. “The hope is that it catches on and spreads.” Doug’s ultimate goal for the program is to inspire not only current students, but also alumni and friends of the University to invest in the next generation of trailblazers in pharmacy, science and healthcare.
Moving forward, our Summer Scholars have big plans ahead: For Sarah, she’s looking forward to her senior thesis on infant encephalopathy planned. “Even if none of the knowledge I gained this summer is especially relevant, I’m far more comfortable in a lab now and will be able to work more efficiently.” Claire plans to continue her research at UW Medicine in collaboration with the Wang Lab.
For Doug, giving back is a personal mission. “To me, everyone should be doing some level of giving back to inspire the next generation,” he says. And with the Nelson-Mendenhall Summer Scholars Program, Doug is doing just that – opening doors for curious minds, just as a few were opened for him all those years ago.