“My first semester at John Jay I straight up failed every single class except for one,” says José Galván ’22, a cell and molecular biology major from the Bronx. “Once I addressed a lot of the issues, I got straight A’s.” Galván received guidance from CUNY Edge, joined the Program for Research Initiatives in Science and Math (PRISM), and found a mentor, Professor Nathan Lents, Ph.D. “PRISM was pivotal for me. It made it clear I could be a scientist,” says Galván, who will start a Ph.D. program in biology at NYU this fall.
How did PRISM help shape your academic career?
PRISM exposed me to scientific workshops and research programs that really enhanced my studies. Dr. Lents pushed me to apply to things that I never would have dreamed of applying to on my own. I’ve been able to attend scientific conferences, like the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS), and meet influential people. One summer, I got into a research program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It was really hard work, but afterward I felt like I could integrate myself into any lab environment or new project.
In what kind of science are you most interested?
Genome evolution can play a big role in many health and scientific problems we currently face, like cancer. In my research with Dr. Lents, we’re searching for the genetic components of human uniqueness. We learned that micro-RNA in modern humans has diverged significantly from ancient humans. We even found out which of the genes were most significantly changed; the top hits were related to cerebral development. It’s really fascinating stuff and we were honored to present it at the American Association for Biological Anthropologists.
How has Dr. Lents been a mentor to you?
He’s been like a surrogate father to me. I can text him anytime and he always helps me. Sometimes it’s research-related things, other times it’s just a question like, “How do I email this person? What’s the right thing to say?” Asking for help is something I’ve struggled with growing up, but Dr. Lents changed that for me.
What are your career goals?
I want to pursue research and mentorship. I want to have my own lab and be there for students, especially students like me. Dr. Lents and I share a lot in terms of our passion for science and being queer scientists. Dr. Lents has been so understanding and empathetic. If the scientific world had a little more empathy, a lot more people from underserved communities like the Bronx would enter it.
