Most high school students during their summer break get jobs at restaurants or relax by the pool every day.  However, some students will be working at interesting and unique jobs such as lab research at hospitals.  Menelik Solomon (’13) is doing exactly that, dedicating his summer to conducting research for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). 

Menelik is enrolled in 3 summer programs for Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).  One of the programs is for anatomy and dissections, the other is for forensic science, and the last is for biology.  But, his main focus is doing lab research for HIV at University of Maryland Medical Center. 

“My goal for my research is first to learn how to split cells,” Menelik said.  “Then, eventually the anti-bacterial cells will be able to react with HIV cells to test for potential vaccines.” 

Most of the experiments Menelik will be doing consist of splitting HIV cells and having potential vaccines interact with them.  This, hopefully, will lead to a vaccine that works against HIV. 

“Although it is highly unlikely,” Menelik said, “it would be so nice to hopefully work in a project that actually finds the cure to such a deadly disease.” 

Menelik found out about conducting this research through his aunt.  His aunt is a lab researcher at the University of Maryland Medical Center and helped him earn the opportunity to research HIV cures.    

“I feel great to be doing something productive for such a meaningful cause,” Menelik said.  “HIV is a growing conflict that ruins millions of lives each year, and to help out feels pretty great.”