Student Chapters

Dedicated to sharing science

Laura Elyse McCormick
Nov. 21, 2022

Lema Abuoqab has always been drawn to science. She chose to attend Tufts University in Boston because the school offers a strong liberal arts education with access to world-class labs and hospitals — the best of both worlds.

However, Abuoqab started at Tufts in the fall of 2020, when undergraduate access to research labs was limited due to COVID-19.

Lema Abuoqab serves as secretary and director of conferences for the Tufts University ASBMB Student Chapter.
Courtesy of Lema Abuoqab
Lema Abuoqab serves as secretary and director of conferences for the Tufts
University ASBMB Student Chapter.

Luckily, the Tufts American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Student Chapter — also known as the Tufts Biology Research Club, or TBR— quickly adapted to help first-years like Abuoqab. TBR developed the Virtual Adjacent Program, an online journal club that introduced new students to scientific research. Participants improved their skills in reading papers and interpreting data. As active Tufts researchers were invited to join the meetings, students also made valuable connections.

Following one such journal club, Abuoqab was struck by the work of Perrie O’Tierney–Ginn’s laboratory and joined it as an undergraduate researcher in May 2021. Simultaneously, she joined the TBR executive board, or e-board, to play a larger role in the club’s activities.

Abuoqab eagerly dove into research, studying the relationship between physical activity during pregnancy and placental lipid transport. With the help of an ASBMB travel award, she presented her work at the 2022 ASBMB annual meeting in Philadelphia. She loved the excitement of the conference.

“Just being in that atmosphere … was honestly the greatest thing ever,” she said.

Although TBR is a vibrant club, Abuoqab and Ze’ev Drukker, who also serves on the e-board, were the only members to attend the meeting. Afterward, they began brainstorming a way to share the energy of a scientific conference with more club members.

As a result, TBR plans to host its inaugural scientific conference at Tufts in spring 2023, and the members will make it open to all undergraduates across Boston. This spirit is typical of the club, Abuoqab noted.

“We are super dedicated to helping other students get as many opportunities and involved in research as possible,” she said.

This year, Abuoqab is serving as club secretary and the director of conferences, building on her previous experience as speaker series coordinator.

Abuoqab aspires to be a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. She became interested in the field after shadowing at a local hospital, but her younger sister’s scoliosis diagnosis helped cement her decision. Motivated by the words of her sister’s doctor, Abuoqab authored a short booklet, “Embrace Your Brace,” to reassure children that wearing a brace does not limit them.

Her passion for medical and science communication continues. Abuoqab also wrote and illustrated a children’s book, “Eric’s Brain Elementary.” Based on a class project, it takes readers on a fun and factual tour of the brain. Her next venture is focused on the digestive system, and she hopes to develop the concept into a series of books about the human body. 

Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?

Become a member to receive the print edition monthly and the digital edition weekly.

Learn more
Laura Elyse McCormick

Laura McCormick is a graduate student in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Get the latest from ASBMB Today

Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.

Latest in People

People highlights or most popular articles

2023 PROLAB winners named
Member News

2023 PROLAB winners named

June 2, 2023

Ten early-career scientists will receive grants that will allow them to advance their research by working in the labs of collaborators abroad.

State laws change the landscape for LGBTQIA+ scientists
Pride

State laws change the landscape for LGBTQIA+ scientists

May 31, 2023

New legislation in the past 16 months has banned gender affirming care for transgender teens, teaching children about sexual orientation and gender identity, and drag shows.

Redefining STEM
Pride

Redefining STEM

May 30, 2023

The U.K.-based organization Pride in STEM says it aims to “queer up science spaces” and to “science up queer spaces.”

Awards for Medlock, Bagde and Maquat
Member News

Awards for Medlock, Bagde and Maquat

May 29, 2023

Awards, promotions milestones and more. Find out what's going on in the lives of ASBMB members.

In memoriam: Sorina Popescu
In Memoriam

In memoriam: Sorina Popescu

May 29, 2023

She was a a plant biologist and biochemist whose last studies included several melding science and agriculture on topics ranging from crop stress resistance to plant root microbial community control.

Meet the 2023 ASBMB Advocacy Training Program delegates
Announcement

Meet the 2023 ASBMB Advocacy Training Program delegates

May 24, 2023

ASBMB announces a new cohort of 12 ASBMB Advocacy Training Program delegates who will learn about science policy and advocacy through this summer externship