Danica Dougan ’27 selected by Howard Hughes Medical Institute for inaugural Cech Fellow cohort
Dougan is a biology major with a minor in statistics and data science.
Danica Dougan ’27 has been selected as part of the inaugural cohort of Cech Fellows by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI).
This immersive summer research program pairs 176 talented undergraduates from 109 institutions across 36 states and territories with leading HHMI scientists. Fellows will spend nine weeks conducting hands-on research at universities, research institutions, and HHMI’s Janelia Research Campus. The program gives students the chance to contribute to real scientific discovery, gain professional mentorship from some of the most impactful scientists working today, and explore potential careers in biological and biomedical research.
The inaugural Cech Fellows will conduct research in 131 HHMI laboratories — Dougan is working in the HHMI lab of Meng Wang at HHMI’s Janelia Research Campus. At the conclusion of the program, the fellows will convene to share their findings and connect with each other.
The Cech Fellowship is named in honor of Professor Thomas R. Cech, former president of HHMI and a current HHMI investigator at the University of Colorado–Boulder. Cech’s discovery that RNA can function as a biological catalyst earned him a Nobel Prize and reshaped molecular biology. During his tenure leading HHMI, Cech established the Janelia Research Campus and expanded educational opportunities for undergraduates. This program reflects his commitment to cultivating the next generation of scientists.
About HHMI
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is a private scientific research institution advancing the discovery and sharing of scientific knowledge for the benefit of humanity. For more than 70 years, HHMI has invested in scientists who make discoveries that further human health and the fundamental understanding of biology. HHMI also supports innovative approaches to science education and public engagement to energize and support future generations of scientists and foster public appreciation for science. HHMI advances pathbreaking science across more than 60 host institutions throughout the country and at its Janelia Research Campus.