Since beginning science research at Luo’s Lab, a biology laboratory in Stanford, senior Albert Pun has expanded his learning through hands-on experience outside of the classroom.

“Scientific research has really been a learning process for me. It’s been a wild rollercoaster. One moment you feel you know exactly what you are going to do, but the next moment you wonder why you are even here,” Albert said. “There’s a lot of twists and turns along the way, but you just keep going, and you always make it through in the end.”

His objective at the laboratory is to analyze computer data and research new drugs better at targeting the needs of clinically depressed patients. Among the members in the laboratory, he is the only high school student.

“Most people in the lab have over 10 years of experience, and I’m the only one that’s actually a high school student, there’s not even any undergraduates from Stanford in the laboratory,” Albert said. “Most of them are post-doctoral or graduate students, so I really stepped out of my comfort zone.”

Albert initially began working at the laboratory in order to write a Siemens Competition Paper, but it has now lead him to help his post-doctoral mentor finish a research paper that will be submitted to a scientific journal, meaning he will receive co-authorship in the official paper.

“I think the toughest part is being an independent scholar,” Albert said. “You have to discover everything yourself through research. [The mentors] tell you a goal, tell you some pointers and some advice along the way, but most of it is up to you, and you have to figure out how to do it.”

One of Albert’s other main extracurricular activities is volunteer work, in which he teaches underprivileged middle school students science and math. He consistently does this every week with a group of friends since his junior year.

“I feel like volunteering is a really insightful process, meeting these underprivileged kids and getting to know their background compared to us coming from Harker,” he said. “[I’ve learned] to not be so judgemental of kids who don’t have the education that you have. I think people should respect that and help them instead of judging them.”

Jonathan Liu (12), who Albert became close friends with during their sophomore year through sharing common interests, described Albert as a great listener who has grown a lot since the beginning of high school.

“Albert is a great friend who always listens to anything you have to say while still providing his own opinions,” Jonathan said. “He has definitely matured and is a lot more social and accepting as a senior.”

Despite college applications and his other activities in and outside of school, Albert has continued his science research through the senior year.
“I’m not finished yet and there are still a lot of things that need to be fixed, but it really motivates me knowing that it will help people,” he said.