Caleb Lee

After four years of pursuing and earning a Biochemistry degree in hopes of attending medical school, I fostered a newfound passion in cultivating my coding skills to become a software engineer. As an individual who spent much of my time immersing myself into the realm of physicochemical processes and working alongside esteemed research scientists, I have learned the fundamental skills of empirical thinking and discipline that can be even greater expressed in the growing tech industry. 

During my tenure at Schultz Lab at The Scripps Research Institute, I was fortunate to be involved in the extensive and innovative research on endosymbiosis. While assisting Dr. Lubica Supekova, I gained valuable insights into the meticulous processes of experimental design and execution. I was often tasked with the preparation of bacterial culture mediums, and through this, I honed my precision and understanding of microbial growth parameters. In addition, my experience with agarose gel preparation and gel electrophoresis expanded my knowledge on the practical application of these techniques in the investigation of artificial gene expression. As part of the dynamic research team, I was entrusted with time-sensitive tasks, and my ability to meet these deadlines consistently greatly enhanced the efficiency and progression of the project. This environment nurtured a profound sense of dedication, responsibility, and intellectual curiosity, all invaluable traits for any research-oriented career.

Recently, I completed a 19-week, immersive software engineering program at Hack Reactor, where I amassed over 1,000 hours of coding experience. The rigorous course furnished me with expertise in full-stack development, utilizing languages and technologies such as JavaScript, Python, Django, React, Redux, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and MySQL, all within an AGILE framework. My experience extended beyond coding as I contributed to the operational needs of the campus, developing and working on production-level applications used by thousands of students and staff. I adopted a Socratic teaching approach to mentor fellow engineers, fostering their problem-solving and research skills while ensuring their autonomy. My duties also involved collaborating with other Software Engineering Instructors and Teachers to devise effective teaching strategies. This comprehensive experience has also polished my ability in troubleshooting, cultivating good habits as a software engineer, and imparting technical concepts.