The Transformation of Scholars at School2Lab
By Anna De Cheke Qualls
The journey of scientific discovery often begins not in a pristine, secluded laboratory, but rather in the curious, imaginative mind of a young student. At Howard University, that vital spark of curiosity is being actively nurtured and transformed into tangible, high-level research skills through the School2Lab program. This initiative represents a profound commitment to the future of scientific advancement, offering local youth a transformative stepping stone into the rigorous world of professional research.
The Genesis and Vision of the Program
High school represents a critical period for students to discover their passions and chart their future academic and professional paths. Recognizing this pivotal window of opportunity, the School2Lab program was established as a National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsored summer fellowship research program. The initiative opens its doors to high school students from the DMV area who are passionate about STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Health Professions).
Structurally, the program operates as a crucial part of the Howard-Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Partnership to Advance Cancer Health initiative. The program's leadership is incredibly robust, bringing together renowned experts to guide the next generation. It is led by Principal Investigator, Dr. Carla Williams, who serves as an Associate Professor of Medicine and Public Health. Other key investigators driving the program's mission include Dr. Heng Li, Dr. Clayton Yates, and Dr. Rao Khan, who also serves as the Medical Physics Director and is the Founder of School2Lab.
The creation of School2Lab did not occur in isolation. Instead, the program is based on the highly successful Summer Academic Research Experience (SARE) program, which was founded by Dr. Douglas Robinson. To ensure the highest quality educational environment, the School2Lab team collaborates directly with the SARE team to provide an intensive, enriching, and impactful summer research experience for local high school students. Ultimately, the primary impetus for School2Lab is to broaden scholars' understanding of science, spark curiosity, and prepare them for future careers in STEMM.
Building a Community of Mentorship
Operational since 2024, the program relies heavily on a dedicated village of academics, coordinators, and mentors. Finding the right scholars required a strategic, grassroots outreach effort to ensure that the opportunity reached those who would
benefit most. Hernitte Altidor, the Howard University Cancer Center’s Coordinator, and Pamela Hamm, the Program Director for the SARE Program, collaborated closely with the organizers and local schools to recruit scholars.
Once the students arrived on campus, a massive faculty effort was mobilized at Howard University to provide top-tier instruction. The extensive list of academic professionals from Howard include Dr. Carla Williams, Dr. Rao Khan, Dr. Quinton Williams, Dr. Misra Prabhakar, Dr. Kofi Deh, Dr. Tamaro Hudson, Dr. Zaki Sherif, Dr. Tsang-Wei Tu, Dr. Edmund Essah Ameyaw, Dr. Anietie Andy, Dr. Shreedhar Devkota, Dr. Zhixing Yao, Mr. Nwanacho Nwana, Ms. Britnee Marius, and Michelle Wills.
In addition to the distinguished faculty, peer mentorship proved to be an invaluable component of the fellowship's structure. The organizers recognized the importance of near-peer guidance to help the high schoolers navigate the complex laboratory environment. Highlighting this support system, Program Director Wills noted, "We also had wonderful graduate student mentors: Mr. Wisdom Benson, Mr. Charlie McDoo II, Ms. Hania Zehra, Ms. Sakinah Ali, Mr. Oluwadara Kalejaiye who worked with the scholars."
A Summer of Impact and Transformation
The culmination of these collaborative efforts was profoundly visible during the most recent 2026 summer session. The environment was dynamic, filled with the energy of young minds tackling complex scientific concepts head-on. There were seven phenomenal students participating in the program this year: Lakayla Britton, Taha Chawla, Amelia Fan, Sarah Kassa, Elyas Mohammad Taher, Trang Trinh, and Fekir Zewdu.
The true measure of the program's success, however, is found in the direct experiences of these young scientists. Their time in the laboratories left a lasting impression on their academic and personal growth. Reflecting on their journey, the scholars provided glowing feedback, as they "described the summer as 'fruitful and life-changing', 'a lot of fun', and 'highly impactful'".
The organizers felt an immense sense of pride watching this transformation unfold. Wills beautifully encapsulated the overarching success of the summer with a profound observation:
“In my view, this summer’s achievement is like last year’s in that it is always incredible to witness the scholars transition from curious and attentive, to engaged and contributing members of a research team”.
This evolution—from a student simply absorbing information to a young scientist actively contributing to a larger goal—is the true hallmark of the initiative. The organizer elaborated further on the ultimate, lasting value of the experience, concluding:
“Learning how to apply and conduct scientific research, and then sharing their knowledge with the community is what I continue to find to be the most successful aspect of the program”.
Through these shared experiences and rigorous training, the fellowship continues to illuminate the path forward for the DMV's most promising young scientists and looks forward to another successful program in 2027.