Jaymee Palma

Jaymee holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and specializes in Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, and Science Communication. She is currently a graduate student at Cornell University, USA.

What is your most exciting mentorship experience?

“My most exciting mentorship experience was during a virtual mentorship program last summer, where I did a project on antimicrobial resistance and drug repurposing. My mentor was a post-doctoral fellow from MGH, and he encouraged me to ask questions and learn more about the field even though I had no prior experience in it. He also helped me outside of the formal internship, helping me explore my career options and prepare for graduate school applications. His example in conducting research and good mentorship inspires me to do the same for other young aspiring scientists.”

Why did you join SIDHI?

“I joined SIDHI because most of the good research and mentorship experiences I've had so far have been from outside of the Philippines. I chose to study abroad from high school because of the sad reality that there is not much support for young scientists and researchers in the Philippines. This is the gap that SIDHI aims to address, and I wanted to be part of that initiative. At SIDHI, we try to help students with their research, to show them that research is not just a difficult school requirement. We want to nurture students' curiosity and to give them the tools they need to find and answer their research questions.”

What piece of advice can you give to an aspiring young Filipino Scientist?

“Research is fueled by curiosity, persistence, and good mentorship. Ask questions and find mentors who are willing to answer and give advice. Also, do not be afraid of failure. In science and research, failures are common and are valuable learning experiences - if you fail, go back, and revise your research design, and try again.”

What is your hope for the future of Science in the Philippines, and Science as a whole?

“I hope that science and research will receive more support in the Philippines, in terms of resources dedicated to training young scientists and access to educational facilities. Science and research have the potential to solve many of our economic and social problems and training the youth to think scientifically and giving them the resources to explore their ideas is an important investment. In the long-term, I hope that STEM students and young scientists like me will no longer have to go abroad to get good scientific training and career opportunities.”