As a biology major, rising fourth-year student Ethan Lin knows that it often boils down to considering his field’s most fundamental concept: cells. This summer, Lin is applying that approach to gain insight into how cancers form through his research with his mentor Alan Tartakoff, professor of pathology at the School of Medicine. 

This interdisciplinary work is examining cell lines to locate where ribosomes are being produced, based on long-held belief that the activity plays a pivotal role in cancer cell maintenance. 

His work is being supported by the Provost Undergraduate Research Grant through the Office of Support for Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE), allowing Lin to focus solely on the research goals without having to take additional work or projects to cover summer expenses.

Lin took time to talk to The Daily about his work in the lab and as a resident assistant, president of the CWRU Model UN and as a member of the CWRU Emergency Medical Service.