Whether it is working for Campus Ministry or conducting research on the effects of microplastics, Jhelaine Palo ‘23 centers her desire to help others in everything she does. The first in her family to attend university in America, Jhelaine immigrated to the United States from the Philippines with her family when she was 13 years old. Since enrolling at GCU, she has taken every opportunity to make her community, and the world, a better place.
Jhelaine, a Biology major and Chemistry minor who lives in Jersey City, has known that she wanted to go to medical school since she was young. Her mother tells her stories about the people she cares for each day as a nurse, and Jhelaine is inspired to help people in the same way. In high school, Jhelaine found that she enjoyed Biology class more than any other subject, so majoring in Biology was an easy and obvious choice. Believe it or not, her desire to dedicate herself to a career in medicine was influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was especially influential for me to witness doctors during the pandemic putting themselves on the line without knowing how it would affect them,” Jhelaine said. “I am equally excited by the science of medicine and the hands-on work that doctors do to help people improve their lifestyles and heal from illness or disease.”
This past year, Jhelaine was presented with an invaluable opportunity to dive deeper into Biology and Biochemistry. She had been conducting research with Dr. Eduard Bitto, Associate Professor of Biochemistry, helping him test an experiment for a lab activity. They presented this research at GCU’s Academic Excellence Night last year. One of the presentation judges, Dr. Jean Parry, Associate Professor of Biology, noticed Jhelaine’s passion for research and invited her to participate in a research project during the 2022-2023 academic year.
Jhelaine, Dr. Parry, Dr. Jessica A. Lisa – Assistant Professor of Biology, Professor Amy Nelson- Laboratory Coordinator, and six other students are researching the effects of microplastics on Caenorhabditis elegans (C elegans), microscopic roundworms that live in temperate soil environments. Plastic products in the ocean break down into tiny particles, some of which are less than 5 micrometers called microplastics. Aquatic animals such as fish consume these microplastics, and then humans consume those fish, ingesting the microplastics. Scientists are still learning how microplastics affect the human body, as it is a fairly new topic of research.
Jhelaine and her team decided to study C elegans because they are a much simpler organism than the human body. They are translucent, so one can see all of their body parts under a microscope. So far, the team has found that microplastics prevent C elegans from reproducing, which they normally do through cell division.
Jhelaine received the Minority Scholarship Award for the research at the Northeast Regional Honors Conference in Pittsburg where she and her team presented their research.
“I was excited and gratified to share the research because it is relevant to the effects microplastics might have on us as humans,” said Jhelaine.
Jhelaine’s focus on medicine and Biology isn’t the only way she makes a difference in the lives of others. Jhelaine has been working for Campus Ministry, under Jeff Schaffer, Director of Campus Ministry, since she was a freshman. She clocks in 10 hours a week to Julien’s Cupboard Food Pantry, where she organizes food products and supplies and hands out orders to the people that the food pantry serves.
“I love my role at the food pantry. GCU welcomes many commuter students or non-traditional students with families who need support and food, so they rely on Julien’s Cupboard,” said Jhelaine. “The experience has helped me develop a deeper appreciation for what I have, and I am grateful to help those in my community that are food insecure.”
Jhelaine also had the opportunity through Campus Ministry to sponsor a Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) student while he was a catechumen. She accompanied the student to mass and discussed bible passages with him to help him prepare to go through the Rites.
“It was very fulfilling to be part of this big moment in someone’s life, when one is welcomed into a whole new community of people who will support him and always be there for him,” said Jhelaine. “The experience actually renewed how I look at my own faith. I am proud to be part of a new generation of Catholics who are welcoming and open-minded.”
Outside of her designated work hours, Jhelaine volunteers extra hours with Campus Ministry to help with special events, such as Thanksgiving and Easter food drives. She even helped host a bake sale to raise money for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Montclair, NJ in collaboration with Bake for a Cause, a student-run organization that holds monthly bake sales in an effort to raise money for a different cause each month.
After graduation, Jhelaine plans to take two gap years as a research assistant in order to acquire more hands-on experience outside of academics before applying to medical school. She continues to bring her spirit of generosity and determination to all her endeavors.
“Because I am the first in my family to go to college in America, I didn’t have much guidance through the process. Often, I’ve had to figure things out for myself. However, the GCU community has had my back, and I couldn’t be more grateful for where that has led me.”
