Writing Her Own Narrative in Science

Valencia Williams has learned not to let self-doubt or other people’s expectations limit her ambitions. The Master of Biological Sciences student currently works in a University of Minnesota laboratory, conducting research in immunology, transplantation, and cellular therapy. But before conducting advanced biomedical research and preparing for the MCAT, she was a first-generation undergraduate working three jobs while trying to navigate a path toward medicine and science.

Finding Purpose

When Valencia was young, her older brother was diagnosed with sickle cell disease. Growing up in a family with limited access to resources and medical knowledge, she remembers how difficult it was to understand what was happening to him and how best to help.

“We didn't understand,” she says. “We were poor, in a single-parent home, and we just didn't have the knowledge.” When her brother suffered a stroke in his 20s, Valencia became even more aware of the effects serious illness can have on patients and their families.

Rather than becoming fearful of medicine, Valencia was drawn toward it. She remembers the steadiness and compassion of the physicians and nurses and the reassuring effect their presence had on her family.

“We would all be so afraid during one of my brother’s crises, and the warmth that they brought into the room was just amazing,” she recalls. “I liked seeing them work. I liked seeing them be confident and calm and patient.”

Her grandmother, who helped raise Valencia and her siblings in Mississippi, also had breast cancer twice.

Those firsthand experiences helped shape Valencia’s desire to pursue medicine and eventually a career that integrates patient care with scientific research.

Gaining Momentum

As an undergraduate at the University of Minnesota, Valencia studied psychology and developed an interest in genetics and biomedical research. Knowing that conducting research would be valuable as she prepared for medical school, she joined the Stem Cell Institute under Dr. Jakub Tolar, Distinguished McKnight Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Blood and Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy.

“While working there, I realized that I absolutely loved research,” Valencia says. But she also realized how much she did not yet know about preparing for medical school.

“I didn't understand what it took to get into medical school. As a first-generation college student, I had no idea what I was doing. At the end of it all, I was just so proud of myself for graduating.”

Dr. Tolar encouraged her to pursue an opportunity at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Valencia went on to spend three years at the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland, studying inherited bone marrow failure syndromes, including dyskeratosis congenita. The role solidified her love of research and helped her envision a career in which scientific research could directly inform patient care.

During that time, Valencia also completed additional coursework in physics and chemistry that had not been part of her undergraduate psychology degree. Mentors encouraged her to continue strengthening both her scientific foundation and her ability to think critically about how research questions are developed and tested. 

“I feel like the Master of Biological Sciences program is giving me the chance to do that,” Valencia says. “I get to do a whole thesis paper, have a committee and present my research. So it brings together many areas I really wanted to develop.”

Returning to the University of Minnesota also carried personal significance. Valencia wanted the opportunity to return to an institution where she had once struggled to find her footing and face it again with greater clarity, confidence and purpose.

Earning Validation

Graduate school also allowed Valencia to deepen her involvement in translational and preclinical research. In the Blazar–McDonald-Hyman Lab at the University of Minnesota Medical School, she contributes to several projects focused on immunology, transplantation and cellular therapies.

One major project examines steroid-resistant acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) using murine models. The research aims to better understand biological differences between mice that respond to corticosteroid treatment and those that develop steroid-resistant disease, with the broader goal of identifying mechanisms that may inform future therapeutic strategies.

Another area of Valencia’s work involves investigating CAR T-cell approaches in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Using preclinical models, the team evaluates whether reengineered T cells can effectively recognize and target AML-associated markers. Early experimental findings have shown enhanced antileukemic activity in treated groups, providing support for continued investigation of these therapeutic approaches.

For Valencia, the work represents more than scientific progress. It reflects how far she has come from the student who once questioned whether she belonged in spaces like these.

“I'm very, very proud of where I'm at now,” Valencia says. “It's a really good testament that what you go through in life, in your childhood, those kinds of things, they don't have to define where you go. I'm committed to making it, because I want to show people that you can't discount somebody and what your life can look like when you take your power back. That's really important to me.”

Valencia’s journey has not been traditional, but each stage has helped shape the scientist and future physician she is becoming. She is now completing her graduate training, preparing for the MCAT, and looking toward medical school with years of research experience and a clearer understanding of the kind of career she hopes to build: one that bridges scientific discovery with the care of patients and families.

Memorable Courses

• BTHX 8110: Ethical Issues in Pediatrics — Jennifer Needle-Suarez
• MICA 8004: Cellular and Cancer Biology — Scott Dehm
• GCD 4143: Human Genetics and Genomics — Frank Albert
• GCD 8131: Advanced Molecular Genetics and Genomics — David Greenstein

Advice for MBS Students

“Take advantage of every opportunity to personalize your program to fit your goals, and don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone.” 

“Use this time not only to grow as a scientist, or in whatever direction your future plans take you, but also to learn more about yourself. There is so much you can gain from the program beyond simply taking classes.” 

“I think you have to be intentional … and not focus solely on getting to graduation. The value is in what you allow yourself to learn, explore and become along the way.”