Nuzhat Maisha Hoque
Work hard, ask lots of questions, and keep in touch with your mentors long after school ends.
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Rogers Science Research Alumni Profile
September 2025
What research project did you work on?
My project used bioinformatics to characterize the microbes found in our urine and bladder, investigating how disease is associated with differences found in the microbiota of different patients. I mined a public dataset collected from female urine samples and sequenced for bacterial genomes. From these genomes, I used computer tools to identify proteins called carbohydrate active enzymes and their predicted substrates, dividing the data depending on disease status. In the end, we hope to learn how the bladder microbiome plays a role in disease, particularly among women.
Why did you decide to sign up for the program?
I love computer science and I love biochemistry, and this project was the perfect blend of the two. It let me try out bioinformatics. I also love learning about diseases and want to use my CS skills to better understand and treat diseases.
What’s a favorite memory from the experience?
Playing pickleball for the first time with the rest of the Gourdine lab.
What role did faculty mentorship play during your time in the program?
Faculty mentorship was so vital to working on this project! I wouldn’t know where to start or do anything if not for the mentorship from Dr. JP. He really helped me hone in on the tools and shape the project. Furthermore, Professor Kagi from the Math Department and Jeremy McWilliams from the library helped me with some of the computer science aspects, especially when I was stuck trying to debug code. I think faculty mentorship enhanced my whole learning experience!
What specific skills or knowledge did you gain during the program that have been especially valuable in your post-L&C life?
How to work independently and organize yourself to achieve goals, which helps me everyday in my studies. I also learned how to seek help from faculty mentors and ask questions. Lastly, I learned so much about bioinformatics and the importance of microbiomes, which I’ve been able to build upon in medical school.
How did the experience shape your thinking about your future career plans?
I knew I enjoyed computer science and coding and I like medicine, but I’ve been searching for a way to bring those two interests together. This experience showed me it was possible and even gave me some options in how I can do that in the future.
What advice would you give to students considering the summer science research program in the future?
Do it! This is your chance to figure out what you like and what you don’t like and to learn new things without being expected to know much. Work hard, ask lots of questions, and keep in touch with your mentors long after the program ends. How much work you put in will dictate how much you eventually get out of it!
