2025 APHL-CDC Scholarship Recipients/HOSA Students Discuss What Excites Them About Laboratory Science

 By Hailey Reiss, specialist, Academic Partnerships, APHL

For the second year in a row, Career Pathways in Public Health Laboratory Science: An APHL-CDC Initiative funded $2,000 scholarships for 10 students interested in pursuing careers in laboratory science.

The students received their awards at the HOSA-Future Health Professionals (HOSA) International Leadership Conference, held last summer in Nashville, TN. HOSA works to empower students to become leaders in their chosen health profession.

The students, all with diverse backgrounds and educations, shared with us what interests them about laboratory science—and public health in general. Who has inspired them? What lessons have they learned? Read on to learn more about what fuels their ambitions.

What is your favorite part of laboratory science?

“I love the scientific process and finding the solution to a hypothesis. The entire process entices me to work toward a goal, step-by-step.” –Aaron Raju, a public health student at the University of Texas at Dallas

“My favorite part of laboratory science is the impact it can create. Every time I’m in the lab, there’s the excitement of making new discoveries and learning from my mistakes. It’s a rewarding process that pushes the boundaries of knowledge.” –Olivia Jung, a biomedical engineering student at Cornell University

Who has inspired you to get to where you are today?

“A key inspiration in getting me to where I am today has been my high school teacher, Mrs. Kelly Lewis. She’s always been actively involved in STEM-related activities around my community and has always encouraged my classmates and me to get involved and pursue our interests.” –-Xavier Thompson, a biochemistry student at Columbus State Community College

“My father inspires me with his resilience, hard work and consistency. My mother inspires me with her ability to take on any challenge, her dedication and the kindness she brings everywhere she goes and in everything she does. My younger brother and biggest cheerleader, Pranav, inspires me with his curiosity that drives him to pursue knowledge in areas he is passionate about, and always reminds me to pursue things with the same passion and love. Without these three important people in my life, I would not be the same person I am today.” –Pragalya Arumugam, a speech and hearing sciences student at the Ohio State University

What was the biggest lesson you’ve learned about public health?

“Public health is so important because it works on a larger level than medicine. If public health initiatives are successful, far fewer people will end up needing to go to the doctor in the first place.” –Siddharth Ghosh Roy, a molecular biology and biochemistry and data science student at Rutgers University – New Brunswick

“The biggest lesson I have learned about public health is that coming together as a community can be powerful. Public health requires sharing resources, collaborating and uplifting each other while we create a safer environment for all.” –Cera Lim, a biology student on the pre-medical track at West Virginia University.

How would you explain public health laboratory science to an elementary school student?

“Public health laboratory science is the study of things, such as disease and pollution, that can hurt people’s health.” –Kara Armbrester, a medical laboratory science student at the Ohio State University

“Imagine you’re a superhero and your job is to protect your school from getting sick. You look at tiny germs under a microscope to find out what they are and where they came from. Then you help doctors know what to do next to keep everyone safe. That’s what public health lab scientists do every day. They are like detectives for health.” –Aaron Summerall, a public policy student with a concentration in public health at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville

Additional recipients include Obed Martinez Juarez and Hannah Tadesse.