Valerie Nguyen

Woman with brown hair smiling

Program: Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Lab: Srinivas Viswanathan

Valerie  Nguyen is a second-year PhD student in the Biomedical & Biological Sciences (BBS) Program at Harvard University and a member of Dr. Srinivas Viswanathan’s lab, where she studies the biology of translocation renal cell carcinoma (tRCC). Before Harvard, she studied Ewing sarcoma at UNC Chapel Hill, spent a year in the Netherlands as a Fulbright Research Fellow at the Princess Máxima Center, and studied chemotherapy-resistant osteosarcoma as a DIRECT Research Fellow at Duke University.

Valerie became involved with LCBC because she wanted to build community beyond her own lab and connect with students across Harvard’s cancer research community. She is especially excited about making LCBC more accessible to trainees, strengthening peer mentorship, and helping students find opportunities and connections within Harvard’s large research ecosystem.

Outside of the lab, Valerie loves cooking and baking and is a member of the Boston Bake Club and Greater Boston Cookbook Club. She is also an avid reader and is always looking for her next book or recipe to try.

What's your go-to coffee/ tea order?  Any seasonal latte from Jimmy's Cafe in Somerville/Cambridge

What is your favorite form of exercise? I love taking group fitness classes. My favorites are Body Pump, Pilates, barre, and Vibe Spin classes 

What is one thing that instantly makes your day better? A sweet treat of any sort

If you were a piece of lab equipment, which would you be? A confocal microscope! I love how colorful the images are and the instant gratification of seeing your results appear right in front of you. There’s something so satisfying about turning something you can’t see with your own eyes into a beautiful image.

Favorite ice cream flavor? Cookies and cream or cookie dough

Would you rather travel back in time to meet your ancestors or the future to meet your descendants? I would travel back in time to meet my ancestors. Growing up as a first-generation Vietnamese American, I’ve always been curious about my family’s history and the lives they lived before coming to the United States. I would love the chance to connect more deeply with my roots, hear their stories firsthand, and better understand the people and experiences that shaped my family.

If you could eat only 3 foods for the rest of your life, what would they be? Pho, Mango Sticky Rice, and Potato & Cheese Pierogi