felikss rumnieks, bioengineer at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA

Hello, my name is Felikss, and I’m a second-year Biology PhD student currently interning at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. My doctoral research focuses on developing bioengineered skin with melanoma tumors and blood vessels to study melanoma metastasis, drug resistance, and novel drug targets.

The past six months have been among the most exciting of my life. Thanks to excellent guidance and collaboration, as well as dedicated effort, I’ve successfully created the first bioengineered melanoma tumors from scratch. Over the next six months, I’ll focus on optimizing these models by incorporating additional components like blood vessels and immune cells, and testing their responses to cancer treatments. This work has provided invaluable opportunities to learn new techniques and skills crucial for my future endeavors.

Beyond my professional growth, I’ve had the privilege of connecting with incredible people, traveling to exciting destinations, and experiencing life in New York City. Living in the Big Apple has been both immersive and enriching, making this journey even more rewarding.