In high school, many subjects captured Sumaiya Sayeed’s interest, but as she started college, she knew that a STEM concentration was the right direction for her. “In my first
semester…I was part of a first-year seminar and a club where we did a lot of STEM journal article reading. I was very impressed by the world out there and wanted to dive right into
research,” she says. Sayeed is a rising junior from San Jose, California spending the summer working in the Shukla lab. She joined the lab in her freshman year, and is currently working on prenatal diagnostics. “My project specifically enriches fetal cells from a mainly cervical cell population and uses those fetal cells to diagnose genetic disorders in the growing fetus,” she says. “The way we’re doing this is exciting just because it is noninvasive. It’s quick, it’s simple and it aligns with my interests of making healthcare accessible to everyone.”

Sayeed hopes to attend medical school and combine her engineering experience with clinical work. “One thing that we biomedical engineers can do is create biomedical devices that might never replace surgeons and doctors but can make highly difficult processes a lot easier and a lot more accessible, especially in smaller clinics or in developing countries.”

When asked how she balances her engineering and pre-med requirements, she laughs. “There have been a few semesters where my course load has been heavy, but at the same time there have been semesters where I’ve been able to explore outside and be happy that Brown is there.” She also relies on her peers, teaching assistants, and professors for help. “All the people I’ve met here really remind me that you can achieve your goals if you’re hard working. [Brown] students have such similar and yet divergent passions. It’s really cool to see people so excited, and to have such deep conversations the first time you meet someone.”

Her favorite classes at Brown have allowed her to connect with other students. “As a BME I really enjoyed taking Biomaterials…I was able to mix and mingle with my fellow BME
classmates and people in years above me,” she says. Additionally, she valued Professors Colvin and Coulombe’s lecture style. “When they lectured you could see their passion clearly,” she says. “Outside of BME, I also really liked Spanish 600. Our experience of discussing literature in Spanish really brought us together.”

Sayeed has also engaged in a variety of activities outside of her classes, including joining The Triple Helix, a student-led journal focusing on research-based perspectives on modern scientific issues. “I had no idea I was passionate about some things until I started reading about them and their impact, not only in science but in the world around us,” she says. “It’s really allowed me to be excited for the future and figure out what I want to do.”

Drawing on the resources around you, like office hours and peers, is important, but Sayeed recommends looking beyond the narrow lens of coursework for motivation. “Being an
engineer can sometimes feel like you’re on this difficult uphill journey, but if you’re not enjoying it despite the difficult times, then you shouldn’t do it,” she says. "Find a reason to
enjoy your time here. That might be through working with other students and reminding yourself what you’re passionate about. It could be through reading literature and discovering your research interests, or it could be through exploring Brown’s Open Curriculum. Your happiness should be your number one goal.”