ISHAN VASHISHAT (He/Him)

What brought you to KPU and your program of study?

One of the greatest highlights of my time at KPU was the extensive hands-on experience I gained in the laboratories. I had the opportunity to work across a diverse range of disciplines, including Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Anatomy and Physiology. I was fortunate to learn from the greatest of professors who truly put their all into making the course content accessible, interesting, and relevant to learners. Instead of just teaching facts, they challenged and enabled us to think independently and proactively to help us build the necessary tools we need to get ready for the challenges of our time.

Can you briefly describe your current position and your main day to day responsibilities?

The education and unwavering support I received at KPU have directly shaped my present and future. Today, I am proud to be working as a Biology Lab Facilitator at a different institute, helping guide current students through the same spaces that inspired me. Now, I get to facilitate undergraduate biology laboratory sessions, supporting students in experimental procedures, data collection, and scientific reasoning. Furthermore, the rigorous academic curriculum provided me with the perfect foundation to prepare for the MCAT, opening the doors for my future endeavors in medicine.

Which skills, knowledge, or experiences from KPU have been most valuable in your career so far?

The strong foundational skills I developed in those labs paved the way for an incredible undergraduate research opportunity. Under the supervision of Dr. Barnabe D. Assogba, I spearheaded a study titled “COVID-19 in Space: Possible Health Risks and Guidelines.”

This project gave me invaluable firsthand experience in how to conduct systematic reviews and literature reviews. Thanks to the immense support from KPU, I was not only able to present this research to our own faculty as my Bachelor thesis, but I also traveled to San Antonio, Texas, to showcase my data at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Scientists (ABRCMS). After the conference, Dr. Assogba told me to reorganize the thesis into a paper that we could publish. So under his supervision, I went through the writing, submission, review, and acceptance of the paper processes. All this amazing academic steps lead to having my name on a scientific paper that got published in the peer-reviewed journal MDPI Pathogens.

What advice would you give current KPU students who want to build a successful career after graduation?

KPU didn't just give me a degree; it provided me the tools, the research experience, and the confidence to pursue my dreams.
If I could pass along any advice to current students, it would be to actively use the resources KPU has to offer. Definitely book an appointment with the career counselors; I learned firsthand about the mistakes I was making on my resume and got a much better template from them, which has earned me a great deal of opportunities and excellent first impressions ever since. You should also rely on academic advisors, as they will be there to help you figure out exactly which courses to take and when for the best outcome. Even when a course doesn't work out or fit into your schedule, they can provide alternative options that you might not even know exist.
​Most importantly, don't be afraid to reach out to your professors. My professors pointed me toward amazing opportunities and guided me through everything along the way. Ultimately, work on projects that actually interest you, join clubs you like, and never back off from applying for what you want. You truly never know what doors might open until you try!