By Douglas Esser
Kiana Imani said she was 鈥渞eally scared鈥 after she joined the research group led by Thelma Madzima, an assistant professor of biology in UW Bothell鈥檚 School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics.
Imani had enjoyed taking Madzima鈥檚 genetics course, but this was new. 鈥淚 came in with zero lab experience, zero research experience,鈥 Imani said.
Molecular biology research also requires a lot of precision, and Imani, a perfectionist, was scared of 鈥渕essing up.鈥
Madzima was patient. 鈥淪he’s always available when we need her. She鈥檚 supportive and made the process so much smoother,鈥 Imani said. 鈥淣ow I can be in the lab by myself and be confident. Now I understand what I鈥檓 doing and why I鈥檓 doing it, and it makes sense.鈥
Corn, drought, DNA
Imani is proud to mention a compliment she received from Madzima. 鈥淪he told me I have good molecular hands, which apparently means I鈥檓 very precise,” Imani said.
Madzima said,鈥淜iana sets very high standards for herself and the work that she produces and is very detail oriented, which is important for the research she is doing. Her attention to detail has contributed to her success in her research outcomes so far.鈥
To oversimplify, Imani鈥檚 research with involves corn, drought and how genes respond. The formal title is Epigenetic Regulation of the Maize BTF3 Transcription Factor under Drought Stress.
Imani extracts DNA from plant tissue in a lab in UW Bothell鈥檚 Beardslee Building. She then compares DNA from unstressed corn with corn that was subjected to drought-like conditions in UW Bothell鈥檚 Sarah Simonds Green Conservatory.
鈥楾he basis of life鈥
A Running Start student from Redmond who took classes at Cascadia College, Imani said math and science have always been her best subjects. She is majoring in Biology 鈥渂ecause it鈥檚 the basis of all life, and it’s so interconnected with every other field. I just find it really fascinating.鈥
Imani also has minors in Chemistry and Neuroscience. She has taken courses in the summers to be in position to graduate in winter quarter 2020. Then, she plans to work a year or two before applying to graduate school or medical school.
Her extracurricular experiences while at UW Bothell include volunteering at the Evergreen Hospital Neuroscience Institute in Kirkland. She serves as president of the UW Bothell Biology Club and tutors at Cascadia College as well.
Undergraduate research
To support her work with Madzima, Imani applied for and received a .
The financial help is definitely encouraging, she said. 鈥淚 feel less stress, and I can spend more time working on my research.鈥
Applications for the competitive Mary Gates scholarships are accepted twice a year, and the $5,000 award is disbursed over two quarters.
Receiving the scholarship was not only financial help, it also was recognition for her, for Madzima and UW Bothell, Imani said.
鈥淚 know my research is making a difference, and it鈥檚 as much an award for her as it is me,鈥 Imani said of Madzima. 鈥淪he’s super patient, dedicated and passionate about what she does. It makes me excited to work alongside her and be in her lab.鈥
