Rachel Ou

As a pre-med student, I’ve always been excited by the intersection of science and people—how discoveries in the lab can one day improve patient care. My research has taken me into projects on lipid nanoparticles, antibody–liposome conjugation, and optogenetics, all tied to questions of precision medicine and drug delivery. Outside the lab, I’m the captain of Penn Table Tennis, president of Penn Chinese Calligraphy, a volunteer with the Center for Surgical Health, and a violinist with Penn Minhuet, where we play music for patients. Balancing research, academics, athletics, and community involvement hasn’t always been easy, but it has been rewarding. I’m happy to chat about finding your first lab, applying to CURF opportunities like PURM and Vagelos grants, presenting at research expos, balancing academics with athletics, and getting involved in meaningful community activities. Always happy to share what I’ve learned with others starting their research journey!

• Undergraduate Researcher, Tsourkas Lab, Department of Bioengineering (Sept 2024 – Present)
• Undergraduate Research Assistant, Mitchell Lab, Department of Bioengineering (May 2024 – Sept 2024)
• Undergraduate Researcher (iGEM Team), Bugaj Lab, Department of Bioengineering (May 2023 – Dec 2023)
• CURF Vagelos Undergraduate Research Grant Recipient (2024)
• CURF Fall Research Expo Presenter (2024)
• PURM (Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program) Recipient (2024)
• iGEM Stipend Recipient (2023)