Carolyn Nguyen Named UC Berkeley’s First Churchill Scholar Since 2016

UC Berkeley is celebrating you as its first Churchill Scholar in a decade–what does this recognition mean for you personally and professionally?

I feel incredibly honored to have been selected, and I am beyond excited by the opportunities the scholarship offers. At the same time, I am deeply aware that research is sustained by mentorship and collaboration, and that this moment reflects the support of many people around me. I have always been proud to be a Berkeley student and part of its research community, so it feels especially meaningful to have a chance to represent an institution that has shaped how I think, ask questions, and grow as a scholar. Professionally, it gives me confidence as I take the next step in my academic training, but on a personal level, it reflects the mentors, peers, and community at Berkeley who made this journey possible.

This scholarship emphasizes deep independent research and a strong academic community–what is particularly exciting to you about these opportunities at Cambridge?

What excites me most is that the scholarship makes it possible to commit fully to a single research project for an entire year, and to do so at the highest level. Having the time and space to think deeply, follow experiments wherever they lead, and work alongside distinguished researchers is incredibly rare. I am also drawn to the strong sense of academic community at Cambridge, where conversations extend beyond the lab and ideas are developed through constant exchange and diverse perspectives. I think that the combination of focus and community is where the most meaningful work happens.

At UC Berkeley, you’ve worked in Dr. James Nuñez's lab using CRISPR-based tools to modulate gene expression. What drew you to this line of research in the first place?

I have always been fascinated by genetics because of how much information and control is encoded in such small molecular changes. When I first learned about CRISPR, I was drawn in by the idea that we could move beyond observing gene regulation to actively shaping it. In Dr. Nuñez’s lab, I was excited about the emphasis on building and refining tools that not only uncover biological principles, but also move toward therapeutic applications. I continue to be very compelled to research at that intersection, where mechanistic curiosity meets the possibility of real-world impact. 

At Cambridge, you’ll pursue an MPhil in Medical Science focused on how the tumor microenvironment influences cancer progression and treatment response. What specifically do you hope to investigate there?

I am particularly interested in how non-tumor cells and stromal components determine whether a treatment succeeds or fails. Cancer is often treated as a cell-intrinsic problem, but so much of its behavior is dictated by context. I hope to investigate how these surrounding signals influence therapeutic response, especially in ways that might explain variability between patients. 

You’re a double major in Molecular & Cell Biology and Business (Haas). How do those two areas influence the way you think about turning lab research into real treatments for patients?

Being in the LSBE (Robinson Life Science, Business and Entrepreneurship) program really trained me to think about science and business as interconnected. My molecular biology curriculum grounds me in the complexity and rigor of the science, while my business education constantly challenges me to think about how discoveries move through the real world – who they reach, how they scale, and what barriers exist between the bench and the patient. My dual majors encourage me to think at the intersection where scientific decisions inform downstream development. That integrated perspective has shaped how I approach research with therapeutic potential. 

What’s one big research question you’re hoping to answer during your year at Cambridge?

I keep coming back to the question of why promising therapies work remarkably well in some patients and not at all in others. I am interested in how the tumor microenvironment contributes to that divergence, specifically how surrounding immune cells, signaling cues, and structural context influence treatment response. More importantly, I want to understand whether those same interactions reveal vulnerabilities that can be identified and exploited therapeutically. The idea that resistance isn’t just a barrier, but also a source of insight, is what really interests me.

You earned both the Goldwater and Astronaut Scholarships last year. How did those experiences prepare you for the Churchill application and interview process?

Preparing for those scholarships pushed me to reflect deeply on what drives my work, both technically and personally, and to articulate that motivation with clarity. Both programs are also rooted in mentorship and community, through which I gained mentors who challenged me to think bigger and peers who continue to inspire me to dream boldly. That combination of reflection, communication, and support was formative in preparing me for the Churchill process.

What’s one thing you’re most excited to do in Cambridge outside the lab (a tradition, a place to visit, a routine you want to build)?

Outside the lab, I’m really excited to immerse myself in Cambridge itself. I have never lived in a city so culturally rich and steeped in history, and I am excited to explore its traditions. I’m hoping to keep active outside of the lab as well, so I’m looking forward to potentially rowing along the Cam or running my third half marathon through the city. I’m also eager to connect with other students and scholars outside my field, sharing meals and going for weekend trips around Europe. I think those moments of community will be just as formative as the time I spend at the bench.