Alia Wahban, a sophomore enrolled in Alfred University’s Medical Early Acceptance Program, completed an internship over the summer at the University of Rochester Medical Center, where she participated in research focused on the study of pediatric cancer.
Alfred University student Alia Wahban in the biology lab next to the digital cadaver table, a piece of equipment used for studying the human anatomy. Alia is a sophomore enrolled in Alfred University’s Medical Early Acceptance Program.
During her internship, which began in late May and concluded in early August, Alia took part in two projects. In one, she worked in a pediatric cancer research laboratory studying B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). The research found preliminary evidence that the relationships between measurable residual disease (MRD), which may be present after the administration of chemotherapy, and the risk of relapse or other adverse outcomes, varies depending on the leukemia sub-type.
The other project studied whether leukemia cell populations with greater VDJ clonal diversity had different metabolic characteristics and whether or not those differences could be targeted therapeutically through DHODH inhibition. VDJ recombination is the genetic process by which developing B cells and T cells randomly shuffle and combine different gene segments. It allows the adaptive immune system to recognize and fight off millions of different pathogens (bacteria, viruses, and parasites) as well as altered cancer cells. VDJ clonal diversity refers to the variety of distinct V(D)J arrangements within a leukemia cell population, which was the focus of Alia’s research.
Alia Wahban (second from right), Alfred University sophomore in the Medical Early Acceptance Program, with some of her mentors from her summer internship at the University of Rochester Medical Center. The group is standing in front of posters outlining Alia’s research on pediatric cancer.
In addition to her research, Alia said she developed mentors and had the opportunity shadow physicians throughout the summer. She spent time in the Pediatric Emergency Department, observed orthopedic and pediatric general surgeries, and made rounds with several doctors of different specialties.
Alia was awarded a scholarship to attend Alfred University and enrolled in Fall 2025, studying biology, biomaterials engineering, and chemistry. She is enrolled in the university’s Medical Early Acceptance Program, in which students are accepted into medical school prior to beginning their undergraduate studies. As undergraduates, students in the program take coursework required for admission to medical school and must meet minimum requirements and academic standards. After competing her bachelor’s degree, Alia will enroll in medical school.
She learned about Alfred University while taking part in the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles in May 2024, at the end of her junior year in high school. To compete at ISEF, Alia, a resident of Oakville, Ontario, Canada (a suburb of Toronto) participated in a regional fair and was chosen as one a handful of Canadian high school students chosen to compete at ISEF.
Her project at the fair, which won first place in the “Energy: Sustainable Materials and Design” category—and led to her scholarship to attend Alfred University—was an innovative, cost-effective gasochromic hydrogen sensor she had developed. The device, which detects the presence of hydrogen at low concentrations was design and made to cost $40; the industry standard sensors, which are larger, typically cost around $2,000. The sensors were designed for use in homes, where Alia hopes hydrogen will be used as a clean primary source of energy.
Alia Wahban (left, with glasses), Alfred University sophomore in the Medical Early Acceptance Program, with fellow summer interns at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
More than 1,000 students applied for the internship at URMC, and only 15 were chosen. “It was so competitive. I took it as soon as it was offered,” said Alia, who has not yet decided on what specialized area of medicine she wants to pursue. In that respect, the internship was beneficial to her, as it exposed her to work with students and doctors who have a variety of interests and specialties.
“I don’t want to be just a physician. I want to be a physician scientist,” she said, explaining her desire to have a career that is research focused, like her internship at URMC. “Through this internship, I was able to collaborate with doctors from different fields. It taught me to communicate my research findings and work together with a team of physicians with different research specialties.”
Alia is enjoying her time at Alfred, where she is a member of the women’s soccer team.
“The main thing at Alfred that stands out are the small classes. You can really develop relationships with your professors,” she said. “And I’m around a group of students with pre-health career aspirations who I’ve really gotten to know and who are willing to help each other.”
