Senior Kameryn Lloyd spent her summer studying how siRNA therapeutics could be a potential tool against cancer.
In my time at UNC-Chapel Hill, I have fallen in love with research. Working in UNC School of Medicine Professor Chad Pecot’s lab studying cancer, asking questions, doing cool experiments, and interpreting and presenting the results has been an incredibly rewarding process. When I was accepted into the Mechanistic Biology Summer Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, I jumped at the opportunity.
Mechanistic biology is about understanding the fundamental “why” behind how biological systems work, especially in cancer. The research I studied this past summer mirrored a lot of what I do on campus at Chapel Hill. In both labs, I studied siRNA therapeutics as a potential tool against cancer. siRNAs are synthetic molecules that bind to a specific RNA and cause it to be degraded before it can be turned into protein. Without that protein, the cancer cell loses signals that help it keep growing. At Carolina, I study this approach in NUT carcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that often occurs in the head, neck or lungs.
My summer project helped me realize that it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of trying to find the next drug, but it is the foundational science that continues to drive research forward. This experience gave me a greater appreciation for the broader scientific community while helping me develop new skills that I will carry into my future research.
During my senior year, I will begin applying to graduate schools. I hope to earn a Ph.D. in cancer biology and work at the intersection of basic and translational research. I want to continue developing cancer therapeutics, but I also want every project I work on to be grounded in fundamental cancer biology and to continue asking the foundational question: Why does cancer behave the way it does?
The Chancellor’s Science Scholars Program has helped me discover my love of research and provided guidance on applying to the summer program. The scholarship supports undergraduates throughout their research journey with the goal of preparing them for Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. programs. I am forever grateful for this community, which has supported me throughout my academic career. My experience here would not have been nearly as meaningful if I hadn’t been a Chancellor’s Science Scholar.
The friends I have made through the program have been with me every step of the way, offering kindness, encouragement and plenty of study sessions. We have taken many classes together, and being able to ask questions and learn alongside them has been invaluable. I genuinely do not think I would have survived chemistry at Carolina without them. The program coordinators have also been incredible mentors, always willing to listen and offer thoughtful advice. They understand the many challenges that come with pursuing a career in research.
My summer in New York was also filled with cultural enrichment. I had some of the best food from around the world, and I cannot even count the number of perfect pizza slices I ate. I also went to concerts in incredible venues featuring unique artists. I spent time at art house theaters watching classic movies on the big screen and attending Q&As with up-and-coming directors, where I learned even more about the filmmaking process.
This year, I hope to savor every moment on our beautiful campus and time with the friends I have made. I am excited to continue my research and my work as an Office for Undergraduate Research Ambassador, helping first-year students fall in love with research just as I did.
By Kameryn Lloyd
Kameryn Lloyd is a senior from Fayetteville, North Carolina, who is majoring in biology with a minor in pharmaceutical sciences. She hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in cancer biology while continuing to nurture her love for the arts through film and music.
For more articles from the Fall 2026 issue of Carolina Arts & Sciences, check out the magazine online.