By: Peyton Prohuska
Simi Fadiran is a Research Specialist at the Social Media and Adolescent Health Research Team (SMAHRT), but his story with the program began years ago. From being part of the TAM Youth Advisory Board from 2020-2021, to joining SMAHRT in 2024, to being accepted into the Medical College of Wisconsin, Simi’s story provides a unique perspective on the importance of youth participation in science labs.
During his Senior year of high school, Simi joined the TAM Program as a Youth Advisory Board member. Learning about the program through a family-friend, Simi was immediately drawn to TAM’s virtual setting that allowed for social distancing and easy accessibility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Simi recalls his time on the board to be a very collaborative and inclusive experience where YAB members worked on projects together. When asked about what he remembers from being involved in the YAB, Simi emphasized that YAB members can expect to get out just as much as they put in, stating “We did all sorts of things to both help Dr. Moreno with research interpretation, but also for ourselves to learn how to conduct research. Dr. Moreno wanted to help us with overall research experience so during the meetings she would present slideshows on how to review grants, or how to write a paper, or how to conduct a survey.” Simi recalled his experiences at the Colloquium with equal fondness, expressing that “Sometimes with interviews it can feel intimidating, like you have to make sure you answer the right questions, but here it’s more like a conversation. It never felt intimidating, just like [the researchers] want to know more about your experiences using social media.”
After graduating high school, Simi began his undergraduate career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he continued to gain laboratory experience. After partaking in microbiology, food science, pathology, and neurology labs, Simi realized that he preferred clinical labs and translational research like those conducted at SMAHRT. After reaching out to Dr. Moreno, Simi returned to the team as a research intern. Though he now works as a research staff on many different projects at SMAHRT, Simi still utilizes his experiences from the YAB, stating that “I was able to come back to the lab in my senior year of college and essentially apply what I learned after all that time.”
Simi’s many experiences in science labs has culminated in his acceptance to the Medical College of Wisconsin where he plans to pursue psychiatry. When thinking about his time spent in the TAM YAB and at SMAHRT, Simi says that he is grateful for everything he has learned and hopes to continue using these skills in the future. To anyone thinking about joining the TAM YAB, Simi wants to tell them that “If you are unsure if you are interested in getting into scientific research, this is a good lab to be in. I say this because I have been in a bunch of different labs, not to say that those labs weren’t good, but this lab in particular is the best at being able to communicate what they are trying to accomplish for people that may not have experience in this area. But it is also very collaborative – you can always ask people questions and they will be able to provide you research or teach you new things. Even if, for example, you are not interested in this type of research, the things you learn here will still be very useful for other labs.”
Simi’s educational and professional journey is a testament to SMAHRT’s commitment to mentoring students through their many programs, including TAM. The Youth Advisory Board provides an environment for youth to experience science labs in an encouraging, collaborative environment that provides support for career-building in science fields. To learn more about how you can be part of the TAM YAB, click here!