Школьник с ювенильным артритом прошел стажировку в Институте Салка и мечтает стать патентным юристом

As San Diego high school students head back to school, many will share stories about vacations and days at the beach. But a select few — including Bishop’s School senior Grayson Blatt — will have a different experience to talk about: Spending their summer working alongside scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. For eight weeks, a small group of high school students gained early exposure to careers in the sciences under the guidance of Salk Institute researchers. More than 400 students applied, and only nine were selected for the paid high school internship, known as the Heithoff-Brody Summer Scholars Program. Blatt earned one of those coveted spots, calling the experience “really memorable.” Not to mention personal. Blatt has juvenile arthritis, and the technology used to develop the medication he takes is similar to immunology research being done at Salk, he said. Thus, Blatt chose to spend his summer as an intern with the Office of Technology Development. The department “serves as a bridge between foundational research and commercial application,” he said. It helps develop partnerships with companies through licensing agreements. His experience wasn’t as traditional as that of some students who worked in a laboratory setting, he said, but it was still his “top choice.” Blatt worked with scientist mentor Ha Nguyen, who holds a doctorate in chemistry and chemical biology and has worked in Salk’s Office of Technology Development for eight years. “We talk about science in terms of the bench research, but when we talk about it in a more applied setting, from a tech transfer perspective, we’re problem-solving,” Nguyen said. “We think about how our technologies at the Salk Institute can be applied to benefit people. And we look for ways to position, market and advance the technology so that it becomes attractive to a company or a partner.” Nguyen said Blatt’s responsibilities included reviewing agreements, connecting with companies and understanding foundational science and how it can be applied in a practical way. “In this department, we need communication skills, problem-solving skills — and the ability to develop ideas,” she said. Blatt also learned to read a scientific paper as part of the experience. But Blatt said one of his most interesting days this summer was meeting with Rusty Gage, a Salk professor in the laboratory of genetics about Gage’s neuroscience research. “I was able to ask a Salk scientist what they want to do with their research and how they intend to see it through as a product,” he said. “It was really cool that I was able to be a tangible part of the process.” As he thinks about life after high school, Blatt said being an intern at Salk makes him interested in pursuing a foundational background in biology in college and perhaps attending law school afterward. He said becoming a patent lawyer and working to advance innovations coming out of places such as Salk “would be really cool.” Carlee Schulz, Salk’s community and engagement coordinator, said applicants to the program do not need previous laboratory experience. In selecting candidates, program officials look for students who are highly motivated and able to connect with research interests at Salk. Learn more: salk.edu/about/education-outreach