An Investment in the Next Generation of Researchers

Evan Swarup was a participant in the 2024 Flinn Foundation Summer Internship Program. For him, the experience was transformative. Recently, the research work he conducted under the mentorship of Hongyu Qiu, MD, PhD — a professor for the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix ‘s Department of Internal Medicine — was published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Their research — which identified targeted proteins related to hypertension — was a significant achievement for anyone, but especially for a student who is still pursuing their bachelor’s degree.

Swarup is a third-year student at Arizona State University and is double majoring in biochemistry and biomedical engineering with a focus in biological devices. His experience in the laboratory with Dr. Qiu gave him access to a community focused on fostering a collaborative environment. This also allowed him to gain a foundational understanding of what it takes to be a researcher.

“It taught me a lot about the process of applying to medical school and how amazing of a profession it could be to be both a physician and a researcher, which is something that I do aspire to be in the future,” Swarup said. “It feels great to be published, but it feels even better to know that I was involved with such a great community of scientists and researchers.”

In the 2024 cohort, Swarup was one of 12 undergraduate students paired with researchers at the College of Medicine – Phoenix to develop hypotheses and conduct scientific research to explore their interests over the course of 12 weeks.

During that time, he worked on a project investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying aging-related aortic stiffening and hypertension. By the end of the internship, Swarup expressed a strong interest in continuing the project and has since consistently worked with Dr. Qiu.

Swarup and Dr. Qiu’s studies reiterated that TRA2β acts as a crucial protein that helps cells decide which versions of genes to use in different situations. Dysregulation of the protein can lead to ailments such as epilepsy or intellectual disabilities.

Their study highlights the potential TRA2β has in controlling disease processes. For future research, the laboratory seeks to investigate the role the protein plays in cardiovascular disease.

As their partnership developed, Dr. Qiu witnessed him improve his technical skills and become more adept at interpreting data critically, as well as become a qualified novice researcher who integrates relevant literature into his work.

“He has been trained and actively participated in cell culture, drug treatment studies and molecular analyses using immunostaining and western blotting,” Dr. Qiu said.

Through the internship and his continued work, he has developed strong skills in conducting literature searches, manuscript writing and responding to reviewer feedback. Dr. Qiu noted that Swarup consistently demonstrates exceptional work ethic, curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.

“I have seen Evan grow remarkably as a researcher through this experience,” Dr. Qiu said. “He has developed from a motivated undergraduate student into an independent and confident young scientist.”