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Gilmour Celebrates 45th Catalyst Symposium: Showcasing Student Researchers and Their Breakthrough Experiences
This week, Gilmour celebrated a major milestone — the 45th Catalyst Symposium — a capstone event recognizing the work of students who spent the summer immersed in hands-on scientific research through the school’s signature Catalyst program. The program pairs motivated students with professional researchers across Greater Cleveland, giving them access to real research laboratories, active projects and mentorship from experts in the field.
For the three Gilmour students who participated this summer — Yuetong (Tinsley) Zhang ’26, Ellie Zorska ’26 and Eva Savelli ’26 — Catalyst was more than an academic experience. It was a transformative opportunity to test their skills, deepen their interests and discover what science looks like beyond the classroom.
The Symposium brought together faculty, parents, grandparents and mentors to hear the students present summaries of their work.
A Program Rooted in Mentorship and Discovery
Since its inception, the Catalyst program has been made possible thanks to its partnerships with leading research institutions and dedicated mentors. Among them is Dr. Kristian Baker of Case Western Reserve University’s Department of Genetics & Genome Sciences, who has mentored Gilmour students in her lab for more than 20 years.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed mentoring my Catalyst students over the last 20 years. The students are always bright, eager and engaged — and truly value the unique opportunity to participate in cutting-edge biomedical research. The key to this program’s success is the combination of laboratory experience with the scholarly journaling, reflection and presentation activities led by an exceptional program coordinator, Dr. Neena Goel."
Her words underscore the heart of the Catalyst experience: meaningful mentorship, deep reflection and authentic scientific inquiry.
Tinsley Zhang ’26: Tracking Lewy Body Formation in a VPS35 Parkinson’s Mouse Model
For Tinsley Zhang, Catalyst offered the chance to step into a college-level biochemistry environment — something that felt both thrilling and intimidating at first.
"I was intrigued by the Catalyst program at first because I think it's so cool to work in a college lab and be able to learn some deeper and high-level topics. I remembered that I was really scared but excited the first time I walked in."
Tinsley spent her summer studying the impact of the VPS35 D620N mutation on Parkinson's Disease. Parkinson’s, a neurodegenerative disorder, is marked by the buildup of misfolded α-
synuclein protein and the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. Mutations in the
VPS35 gene, a key component of the cellular protein-recycling system, have been linked to
hereditary forms of the disease. Working with Dr. Zhu at CWRU, Tinsley Zhang investigated
the influence of VPS35 D620N mutation on α-synuclein aggregation and neuronal loss using
a knock-in mouse model. She utilized the immunohistochemistry technique to analyze proteins in tissue samples. This research contributes to understanding how Parkinson’s Disease spreads within the brain and may help inform strategies to slow or halt its progression.
Her days were structured and hands-on:
"I got to the lab at 9:20. I started working on my immunohistochemistry experiments, then I recorded the data and my experiments process…When I got the results back, I would take pictures, talk to my professor and lab members before leaving the lab at about 4:30."
The unfamiliar techniques soon became second nature.
"This technique of using an antibody to produce chemical reactions so that we can see the proteins inside the tissue is really new to me. But after practicing it many times, I understood the purpose of each step.”
For Tinsley, the biggest moment of pride came when she began assembling her presentation.
"It wasn’t until I started to put all my data together that I realized how much I have gone through and learned."
Working alongside professional researchers was eye-opening:
"By talking to my professor, I developed a grasp of how the professionals look at the results of experiments, how they put data together, and how they lead the direction of research. It's very different from learning in a classroom because this requires a lot of studying before we actually understand the project, and it is more hands-on, and it also taught me that it is our responsibility to go talk to our professors."
The lab environment surprised her not for its rigor, but for its warmth and camaraderie.
"I even attended the celebration of a lab member's wedding. This made me feel like I am part of their team."
And the experience solidified her path forward:
"This experience… confirmed my interest in the biochemistry area."
Ellie Zorska ’26: Gold Nanobipyramids as Contrast Agents in OTC Imaging
For Ellie Zorska, Catalyst was the perfect blend of her passions for chemistry and biology.
"Catalyst intrigued me because of my deep interest in chemistry and biology… When I first walked into the Chen Lab, I was fascinated with all of the experiments going on at one given time, yet also intimidated by how smart everyone in the lab was."
Ellie’s research involved pioneering work in biomedical imaging that can improve non-invasive visualization of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), the degeneration of which can lead to glaucoma. She worked under the mentorship of Dr. Fang Chen at CWRU, synthesizing gold nanobipyramids (GNBPs) and testing them as contrast agents for optical coherence tomography (OCT). Her research shows that GNBPs can improve non-invasive visualization of RGCs, offering a promising tool for early detection and monitoring of glaucoma progression.
Her days in the lab were dynamic and unpredictable:
"Because doing scientific research isn’t always going to give you the results you want the first try, no two days in the lab would look the same."
Ellie collaborated closely with her graduate student mentor:
"One day… Wei explained how the precursors for the titanium dioxide and silicon dioxide reacted to form a hard layer around the particle. I was having a really hard time understanding how this reaction worked, but… it finally clicked."
Like her peers, Ellie’s proudest moment was presenting months of complex work at the Symposium:
"This project was extremely high-level and out of my comfort zone… so going from that to being able to present for 20 minutes was a huge accomplishment."
Catalyst also changed how she thinks about scientific learning:
"Working alongside a professional researcher was different… because they didn’t always know the answer… there is a lot of trial and error."
And it broadened her perspective on lab culture:
"One surprising thing… was how connected everyone in the lab was. When I used to think of research, I would think of one person working mainly by themselves and not with a group. However, this turned out to be quite the opposite."
Her experience strengthened her desire to pursue medicine and research:
"My Catalyst experience has further confirmed my interest in science and becoming a doctor… and wanting to do research in college."
Eva Savelli ’26: Characterizing UPF1 Protein Interactions in Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay
For Eva Savelli, Catalyst aligned with her deep interest in biology and her desire to experience real laboratory science.
"I was excited and nervous walking into a professional research lab for the first time, but the environment was very encouraging and inspiring."
Eva worked on cutting-edge genetic engineering, studying nonsense-mediated decay (NMD), a quality control mechanism that degrades aberrant mRNA transcripts to prevent the production of truncated, potentially harmful proteins. UPF1 is a key factor in this pathway and, while the overall pathway is known, important details of its mechanism still need to be understood. Eva, working in Dr. Kristian Baker’s lab at CWRU, used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing tools to create yeast strains expressing Myc-tagged proteins. These strains will allow the lab to study how partner proteins interact with UPF1, providing deeper insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the NMD pathway.
Her daily work involved intricate molecular biology techniques:
"My day in the lab involved various procedures to prepare for gene engineering in yeast cells and analysis of protein tagging."
A breakthrough moment came when her team’s western blot results brought clarity:
"Once we got our results, I was able to understand how the proteins can be tracked through tag expression, and how it can help the lab better understand protein interactions in cells."
Like her classmates, Eva felt the weight — and reward — of building a polished, professional presentation:
"It took many drafts and multiple months of work to feel confident… Once I completed my presentation, I felt proud of the final results."
Catalyst reshaped her understanding of scientific learning:
"The learning environment was much more hands-on… I had the opportunity to contribute to the project and learn new concepts while participating in the procedures."
She also gained exposure to a range of molecular biology tools she never expected to encounter:
"Learning procedures such as how to do a gel electrophoresis and western blot taught me a lot about molecular biology that did not only involve my specific project."
Most importantly, the program affirmed her future direction:
"The Catalyst experience has helped confirm my interest in biology and has helped me feel more confident about taking that step in my college education."
A Summer of Transformation
Across labs and research fields, Tinsley, Ellie and Eva shared common themes in their Catalyst journeys: initial nerves giving way to confidence, complex techniques mastered with patience, presentations that showcased months of growth and mentors who shaped their understanding of what real scientific inquiry entails.
Their experiences — celebrated at the 45th Catalyst Symposium — reflect the power of immersive research and the enduring impact of the scientists who welcome students into their labs.
As Dr. Baker notes, the strength of Catalyst lies in the synergy between rigorous laboratory research and the reflective academic structure that surrounds it. Through this balance, students gain not only technical knowledge but also independence, curiosity and a deeper understanding of themselves as emerging scientists.
Gilmour is proud to honor the work of these three scholars and looks forward to the many discoveries future Catalyst students will make in the years to come.
