By Matthew Pak
As the summer of 2025 approached, many Ponte Vedra High School (PVHS) students found themselves preparing for camp, jobs, and internships to gain experience and insight into what their futures may hold. This summer, seniors Anya Dorairaj and Daniel Byron and juniors Lincoln Rozen, Vai Miller, and Nat Bagnall interned at Mayo Clinic as part of the Science Program for the Advancement of Research and Knowledge (SPARK).
During SPARK, these scholars created and executed an experiment within the lab under the guidance of lab advisors and mentors. After eight weeks, scholars presented their findings to the Mayo Clinic community. The presentations ranged from the statistics and difference in genders among Ehlers-Danlos syndrome patients to novel proteins that promote the growth of blood cells, and the heart repair processes post heart attacks and cardiovascular disease. Anya said “Prior to SPARK I had zero lab and research experience. What I loved about SPARK was that it allowed me to master skills in the lab, as well as soft skills such as presenting.” Anya researched cardiovascular and ischemic heart diseases but was not limited to only those fields exclusively. “Mayo Clinic allowed us to experiment with different specialties and find ones that we were interested in. Through SPARK I was able to participate in a pediatric neurosurgery training workshop, which helped me discover I was also passionate about neurology.” Anya hopes to join an accelerated medicine program or a BS/MD and eventually become a Cardiothoracic surgeon or a Neurosurgeon. Daniel researched in the neurology department. “I enjoyed the research because it allowed me to gain hands on experience with lab work, which is difficult to gain at our level. I also enjoyed the challenge as I had to use multiple perspectives and strategies when it came to solving problems in the lab. In the future, I plan to pursue a career in econ, math, or engineering, which works in with what I learned from SPARK. The challenges I faced in the lab improved my aptitude, allowing me to better problem solve and think outside of the box, a skill that is needed for any field, but especially engineering and math.”
“Mayo Clinic allowed us to experiment with different specialties and find ones that we were interested in. Through SPARK I was able to participate in a pediatric neurosurgery training workshop, which helped me discover I was also passionate about neurology.”
Anya Dorairaj (12)
SPARK extends beyond Mayo, reaching the communities around North Florida and even beyond. All SPARK scholars are expected to present their research at the St. Johns County Science Fair (SJCSF). Some scholars even find themselves competing at an international level at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). In 2025, 1,700 students and young scientists from around the globe traveled to Columbus, Ohio to compete at ISEF. At ISEF, contestants compete in 22 categories that range from animal studies to translational medicines. Anya presented her SPARK research under the cellular and molecular biology category. “I really loved that ISEF allowed us to meet people from various backgrounds, who are just as passionate about science as I am. Being able to meet and network with the other competitors really inspired me to stay curious with my research. My research was critiqued by scientist and doctors from around the country, which greatly refined and enhanced my project. The experience really allowed me to expand my horizon and learn more about other areas of science I was unfamiliar with. I never imagined myself competing at the international level, but the opportunities SPARK gave me allowed me to pursue my passion and find success in research.” Anya’s research has won various awards, attaining first place at the SJCSF and the outstanding in vitro biology award.
PVHS has a history of students interning with SPARK in the past. PVHS alumni Kelvin Shi (Class of 2021) also researched under SPARK and is in the process of applying to medical school. Kelvin believes SPARK gave him a unique opportunity that allowed him to contribute to a research project which helped him build his scientific abilities. “SPARK definitely sparked my interest in pursuing a physician/scientific path. I learned to enjoy the aspect of searching for answers that current literature lacked.” He attributes part of his success to his experiences at SPARK. “My ties with SPARK help me land various other research opportunities, such as the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) and the Clinical Research Internship Study Program (CRISP), which I was able to do while I was studying at Florida State University. For students interested in medicine, Kelvin advised “The four main aspects that medical schools look for are clinical experience, research, volunteering, and leadership. Out of these four, clinical experience is king. I heavily recommend that students seek those opportunities as early as possible and find ones that you personally care about! Finally, be involved with your college/university and enjoy the journey! Even though it may be tough, never be afraid to reach out for support and understand that you are not alone.”
Looking toward the future, many students look to pursue a career in medicine, patient care, and research to continue to innovate and pave the future of medicine. SPARK offers a unique opportunity to students that foster their intellectual curiosity and encourage them to innovate and “think like a scientist.”
Pictured: PVHS SPARK scholars interning at Mayo Clinic
