Building Confidence Through Research: The Biobricks Approach
Leading the Biobricks Research Stream has been a deeply personal experience because it grows directly out of the kind of research environment I wish I had as an undergraduate. When I first walked into a lab, I felt overwhelmed and intimidated by the solution bottles, equipment, and even the questions being asked. I was often scared to speak up, afraid that not knowing an answer or making a mistake meant I didn’t belong in science. A patient and supportive Ph.D. mentor changed that for me, giving me space to ask questions, make errors, and slowly build confidence in my own abilities.
As a Research Educator (RE) in FRI, those experiences shape my vision for leading Biobricks. I aim to create a lab where students feel comfortable being honest about what they understand and where they are confused, and where it is normal, not shameful, to say “I don’t know yet.” I want the lab environment itself not to intimidate students, but to invite them to explore. That means treating mistakes as part of the learning process, questions as evidence of engagement, and uncertainty as a natural starting point in research.
The most rewarding part of leading Biobricks is watching students grow from hesitant and unsure to curious, independent, and confident. Over time, they start taking initiative, supporting each other, and often surpass the level of readiness and confidence I had at their stage. Hearing from alumni about how their FRI experience has helped them in their careers, and seeing them carry forward a culture of supportive mentorship, reinforces my belief that being an RE is not only about teaching research skills, but also about cultivating a community where students can see themselves as scientists and future mentors.
About the Author
Dr. Soo Hyun Yang is an Associate Professor of Practice and Research Educator in FRI since 2015. In collaboration with Principal Investigator Dr. Karen Browning in the Department of Molecular Biosciences, the Biobricks stream introduces students to hands‑on biochemistry and molecular biology research focused on understanding how proteins function in living systems. Students build, test, and analyze proteins while contributing to real research questions connected to health, biotechnology, and cellular biology.
Their work has been presented at numerous conferences published in peer-reviewed journals, such as Cell Reports and the Journal of Biochemistry.
Dr. Yang is the recipient of a 2021 CNS Teaching Excellence Award. She previously served as FRI's Admissions Coordinator and now oversees Stream Sort, the process through which FRI students select their Research Streams. She is also the co-director for Shadow-A-Scientist, a summer outreach program that pairs small groups of middle school students with FRI labs for hands‑on visits to experience real research in action.
