Mary Barber has aspired to study science and become a doctor since growing up in a small Tennessee town. This summer, her dreams of scientific success are coming more and more into view as she completes a 10-week internship as an “Aspirnaut” at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. A rising sophomore and biochemistry/molecular biology major at Belmont, Barber is participating in the research intensive program for students with diverse backgrounds and strong desires to pursue careers in medicine.

Barber said she’s wanted to devote her life to science and medicine for as long as she can remember. When looking for summer programs or internships after finishing her freshman year, Barber said Vanderbilt’s research internship, funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, stuck out because of its commitment to excellence–both inside and outside the lab.

“I chose this program because of its authentic commitment to diversity, opportunity and science. The Aspirnaut program goes beyond laboratory research–it seeks students that can enrich the field with their unique life stories and provides the resources to expand the potential of every single student.”
Working in Dr. Billy Hudson’s lab in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Center for Matrix Biology and Department of Biochemistry, Barber’s research uses chemical and biochemical approaches to focus on understanding Goodpasture’s autoimmune disease. Her work seeks to better understand the medical mystery surrounding how the disease develops and how medicine can treat it. Despite the experience of working in a state-of-the-art research facility among the nation’s top medical minds, Barber said some of her favorite memories have been the ones shared with her colleagues–fellow students, professors, researchers, doctors and even artists.

“I have enjoyed the amazing networking opportunities–and meeting some incredible people with the same vision for life as me,” Barber said. “I have been able to have intimate, important conversations with individuals that can help mold my future in a profound way. We are truly a mosaic of personalities and each person has a special quality they contribute.”

Barber looks to the program’s directors, Drs. Billy and Julie Hudson, for the experience’s transformative qualities. “They told us on the first day that we would learn a lot about science during our time here, but we would learn more more about ourselves,” Barber said. “The truth within their words is astounding.” From learning how she interacts with others, to how she deals with challenges to how thinking creatively within the sciences is necessary, Barber said her time as a Aspirnaut has only strengthened the passions she developed as a child.

“Know that what I do in the lab can contribute to the solution for a human problem excites me and encourages me to continue working hard,” Barber said. “The key insights that I have gained through my coursework and extracurricular activities show me where my true passion lies and how far I can carry those things with me in the future.”

Teaching music, chatting over coffee with her new teammates, learning to penny board or enjoying Slovenian ice cream treats are just some of the activities that fill the days of Annika Virden’s summer. A rising junior and computational neuroscience major at Belmont, Virden is spending her time away from campus interning for Josiah Venture (JV), an international organization devoted to creating a movement of God among the youth of Central and Eastern Europe.

Virden said she first heard of the organization from her Nashville-based church, Fellowship Bible, and immediately felt her heart called to the mission. “I felt deeply called [to this internship] in a way I didn’t quite understand,” Virden said. “I believe strongly that this is what God has for me this summer, and He’s going to use my time here both to reach whomever He want to with His grace an to teach me about Himself.”

While serving in Slovenia, Virden has many different jobs including planning for JV’s upcoming music camp “Fusion,” spending time with other interns and missionaries to engage in important conversations, visiting local primary schools for mini-choir sessions and spending time making relationships with young Slovenes, among other opportunities.

Since arriving at the beginning of the summer, Virden said she’s already experienced life-changing moments, the biggest of which happen when she least expects it. “The best part has been the deep community I’ve already gotten to experience here…Relational ministry means pursuing connections on a heart level with family members, team members, neighbors and anyone God puts in my path to serve.”

And the impact won’t stop in Slovenia. Though Virden says her time in the new country has ignited new passions within her, it has also instilled a new confidence in her ability to take on challenges successfully. “I’ve learned that I am adequate for this task, both here and in Nashville–not because of myself, but because of God and His grace toward me.”

With two more years left in college, Virden is already looking to what the future can hold. “This is what I want my life to look like in general,” Virden said. “People-focused, Christ-led, flexible, and full of opportunities to be stretched and grown in everyday circumstances that are transformed by grace.”