Abby Smith, a Boston native, returned to the city this summer after spending four years…
SIX QUESTIONS FOR FIRST-YEAR RESEARCH ASSISTANTS: ETHAN EICKMANN
After graduating from Columbia University in May of 2024 with BAs in Biology and Computer Science, Ethan joined the OrACORe team in July 2024. His unique combination of degrees has proved useful in projects such as FraPol, OAPol, KArAT and TOPS – and we’ve quickly learned that Ethan is the man to go to if you need a process automated! Upon reflecting on his first few months with OrACORe, Ethan has noted that one of his favorite memories has been participating in the BWH young professionals run-club, where he and fellow first-years were recently rewarded with free pizza at Time-Out market for completing a 3-mile run.
What about this research position attracted you to it?
While browsing for my first post-graduate job, I knew I was looking for something that would allow me to continue applying the research-related skills I’d developed during college while also engaging in a more clinical, patient-facing setting. Once I learned that research assistants at OrACORe work on a variety of projects with varying levels of participant interaction and scientific thinking, I knew this position would be a great fit. Since starting in July, my experience has confirmed my suspicions that this position allows me to have this unique combination of work. For example, I find OAPol and FraPol very intellectually stimulating, whereas KArAT and TOPS involve spending time interacting with participants over the phone and in person.
What do you enjoy most about working at OrACORe?
The people here account for a substantial portion of what makes my day to day at OrACORe so enjoyable. OrACORe is comprised of a great network of doctors, investigators, and researchers, so there are always friendly faces in the office and it is very easy to find whatever kind of help you might need—career advice, MCAT prep recommendations, plant care tips, etc. This was another reason I chose to come to OrACORe over positions within smaller research groups.
What is one piece of advice/wisdom you would offer to someone considering applying to a research position at OrACORe?
If you’re not exactly sure what you want to do after graduation, OrACORe is a terrific place to figure it out. You will be exposed to a lot of different disciplines, like medicine, public policy, and statistics, as well as some economics and basic science. Learning about those fields, especially simultaneously, may help you define your interests so that you can eventually pivot to what you like best. This diverse experience combined with the support from faculty mentors allows research assistants to launch careers that span different directions.
What does a day in the life at OrACORe look like for you? What is your favorite project that you are working on and why?
One of the nice things about OrACORe is that my days always look different. On an average day, I might evaluate a potential KArAT participant for eligibility during a baseline visit in the morning before having lunch with the other research assistants around noon. Later in the day, I might attend a couple project-based meetings and spend a few hours at my computer working on modeling projects like OAPol or FraPol. Recently, the KArAT project has grown on me as a favorite because my role and responsibilities include a nice mix of interacting with participants and applying the coding and data management skills that I built during my undergraduate years.
What have your first few months living in Boston looked like?
I went to school in New York City, and so living in Boston hasn’t been too big a change. While Boston is smaller than NYC, I have found there is still a lot to do. I enjoy having the beach close by, because it’s a great place to run even when too cold to hang out by the water. The public library on Boylston Street is also an amazing place to study on weekends.
What are your plans post-OrACORe?
Like much of my cohort, I am currently in the process of preparing for medical school applications. Long-term, I want to integrate research and medicine into one career, ideally one where I can continue to think deeply about some of the topics that interest me, including genetics, physics, and machine learning, and to apply what I learn to help others. Within the field of medicine, radiation oncology or radiology are specialties that might fit that description, but I still have many years ahead of me before I have to make that decision. During my first few months at OrACORe, I have begun to develop my soft skills, and I have made inroads with how to interact empathetically with people in a medical context, and I am confident that these skills will help me in any medical specialty or field I choose.
