Maine student 1 of 3 in US to win research spot for her work on cancer cells
Sabattus Resident Selected for Prestigious National Science Foundation Research Program
A Sabattus woman has earned one of only three spots nationwide in the National Science Foundation's Undergraduate Summer Research Experience program taking place in North Dakota.
Alexis Spencer, 20, is currently spending the summer months in Grand Forks, North Dakota, participating in the competitive program that runs from May 25 through July 31. The opportunity allows her to work alongside other undergraduate students at a larger university campus, gaining access to expanded laboratory facilities and academic resources.
Spencer, who is entering her senior year at Thomas College in Waterville, chose her institution specifically for its intimate learning environment and dedicated faculty. "I selected Thomas College because of the small class sizes and because of the faculty who are passionate in what they are teaching," she explained.
Her academic journey began with a psychology major focused on mental health. During her sophomore year at Thomas College, Spencer discovered her passion for biology through additional science coursework. She added biology as a second major and, at the start of her junior year, incorporated pre-medical studies to pursue her long-term goal of becoming a pediatric oncologist.
"Adding pre-med meant extending my program by another year, but I couldn't have been happier with that decision," Spencer said.
The research opportunity came through Dr. Julia Saloni at Thomas College. Spencer will develop a computational model designed to predict how effectively various drugs can block cancer cell growth. This approach allows researchers to simulate potential drug responses without the expense of purchasing numerous compounds and cell lines for physical testing.
The research directly aligns with Spencer's medical aspirations. "Because I want to work with children who have cancer, learning about how cancer cells respond to different drugs is really exciting to me," she noted. The experience provides valuable research skills that will benefit her throughout medical school and her future career as a physician.
Beyond her clinical ambitions, Spencer plans to leverage her psychology background to support children and their families during challenging times. She aspires to combine patient care with ongoing involvement in cancer research, hoping to make meaningful contributions both in treatment settings and through scientific advancement.
After completing her studies at Thomas College, Spencer intends to pursue medical school with the goal of specializing in pediatric oncology.
