Welcome to Summer Spotlight: where Health Professions Advising (HPA) explores the summer experiences of our students.

Blaise Stone '26 spent this summer doing research research at Oxford through the Streicker Fellowship
Hi, my name is Blaise Stone and I am a pre-med molecular biology major in the class of 2026. I have always wanted to study abroad and have enjoyed my research experience so far at Princeton, and so I sought out a research internship abroad for the summer of 2024. I spent my previous summer doing research in Jean Schwarzbauer’s lab as part of Princeton’s OURSIP program. My project studied the regulation of key proteins in lung fibrosis. I became passionate about this topic and continued doing this research during my sophomore year through the MOL 280/281 independent course. While searching for upcoming summer opportunities, I knew I enjoyed the research I had done, but I also wanted to learn new skills in a different lab. I met with my PI Professor Schwarzbauer and asked for guidance and she thought of her former postdoc Kim Midwood who is a PI at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology at the University of Oxford. I then looked into Princeton’s funding opportunities and found the Streicker Fellowship for student-proposed international internships. I first met with Kim online where she explained the project I would be working on which was related to lung fibrosis and so I had background on the topic. I then applied to the Streicker Fellowship with a detailed application describing both my academic goals in the research and personal aspirations to immerse myself in England’s culture.
I loved my research summer abroad in Oxford. I became independent in the lab conducting experiments and analyzing data on my own, which I would then discuss with my postdoc mentor and Kim. The experiments involved dissecting tissue samples from mice followed by qPCR to quantify gene expression with an aim of furthering understanding of the fibrotic cellular environment and promoting novel treatments. Though the project modeled the same disease I studied at Princeton, I worked with mice for the first time, learned new experiments, and approached the disease from a different angle. On the weekday evenings and weekends I explored the city of Oxford- I visited different colleges and gardens, had afternoon tea, and attended Pub trivia nights. I also learned more about the greater England culture through trips to London, Bath, Stonehenge, and Blenheim palace. Also, as a ballet dancer I was really excited to take ballet classes in Oxford and London. I had a wonderful summer in Oxford and feel grateful to have been challenged both academically and personally while working abroad.
My advice to underclassmen looking for internships is to start planning early and to have an open mind. As I began my process, I had hopes to continue doing research and of being abroad, but besides that I was very flexible. I believe summers are crucial opportunities to get out of your comfort zone and try something new, and so I appreciated how the Streicker Fellowship required me to take an independent role in designing my own internship. The Streicker Program also had many resources that I used to ensure my summer plans were organized and practical. I encourage students to reach out to their professors and advisors for advice on summer possibilities as my summer would not have been possible had I never reached out to my PI. Also, talking through your thoughts and plans with a trusted mentor may provide further insight on what you envision for the summer. Princeton has so many programs and funding available and by taking the time in advance to reflect on your goals and seek advice from those you trust, you can find the internship that is right for you.