While his peers took a break from textbooks and papers, high school student Jaron Magstadt spent the summer at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) conducting research with Jaime Modiano, VMD, PhD, Perlman Professor of Oncology and Comparative Medicine in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, and Kelly Makielski, DVM, a postdoc in the Modiano Lab.
Magstadt is with the Modiano Lab as a recipient of the Emperor Science Award, a prestigious national award for high schoolers with strong interests in cancer research. “I was there five days a week looking for a specific gene in canine osteosarcoma,” he says. “This gene can sometimes be lost in dog tumors, and I was looking to see why and when that happens.”
For Modiano and Makielski, hosting and mentoring an awardee seemed unlikely. “Thousands of scientists answered the call, so chances were pretty low that we would be selected,” Modiano says.
But while the odds of being selected were statistically low, it’s clear the Modiano Lab was chosen due to its proven track record of mentoring young scientists. Magstadt had much opportunity for growth this summer. “We both saw Jaron become increasingly confident in the hands-on work,” says Makielski.
“He also got better at understanding whether others did experiments or interpreted results correctly,” says Modiano.
So, what’s next for Magstadt? One thing is clear—his passion for science and oncology is stronger than ever. “Next year, I’ll be doing postsecondary enrollment options at the U, and hopefully I’m going to med school in the future,” he says. “This experience has really affirmed my passion.”
Modiano agrees that the experience has been affirming but in a different way. “This mentorship reinforced my belief that there’s hope for the future,” he says. “There are smart, young people like Jaron who are committed to making the world a better place. For me, that’s gratifying and empowering.”
Photo by Jennie Kim