Aaliyah Veloz '26: MIT, Harvard, & Genomic Research

This summer, Aaliyah Veloz '26 participated in the highly selective Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP) at the renowned Eli and Edythe L. Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, a cutting edge biomedical and genomic research center in Cambridge, MA.

At the end of the six-week program, Aaliyah officially presented a project involving a comparative analysis of three quality control (QC) instruments essential to the workflow of single-cell sequencing.

Cutting Edge Research

• In Her Words...
• About the Broad Institue of MIT and Harvard
• Meet Aaliyah Veloz '26

 

In Her Words...

Submitted by Aaliyah Veloz '26

"This summer, I participated in the Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP) at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard."

"BSSP aims to broaden access to science, often seeking students from underrepresented communities or low-income backgrounds. This has created a diverse and high-achieving community where my peers could connect and collaborate on scientific topics and the college admissions process."

"Given the Broad Institute's focus on genomics, many of our projects centered on genetic research, biotechnology instruments, and DNA editing technologies like CRISPR (I recommend learning about it!)."

"I found this program by searching for summer science opportunities, as I've always been drawn to the medical field and have a strong interest in Neuroscience. The Broad Institute seemed like the perfect place to explore the research behind many current scientific discoveries. I believe my engagement in school and the authenticity of my essays, demonstrating my ability to overcome challenges and my enthusiasm for science, were key factors in my application's success."

"I acquired many fundamental lab skills and learned proper lab etiquette. We were assigned lab partners, which allowed for strong collaboration and communication regarding expectations and habits. My specific project focused on single-cell sequencing and "Quality Control."

"We spent our time learning about three biotechnology instruments, understanding their pros and cons to help scientists get more accurate and reliable data for their research. This experience significantly deepened my understanding of genetic research and, unexpectedly, sparked an interest in biotechnology, a field I hadn't considered before!"

"BSSP also provided valuable training in networking, science communication, and college applications. We even had the opportunity to attend MIT's College Fair night, where over 20 top-tier colleges introduced themselves to summer programs in the Boston area, allowing us to speak directly with admissions officers."

"I would like to thank Adrianna Matos-Nieves, PhD (Broad Institute) for her tireless dedication throughout this program, she saw the potential in all of us and showed us what true passion for science looks like. I’m also grateful to Cristina DeOliveira, Ph.D (Harvard Medical School) for her guidance in shaping our project’s goals and presentation; she consistently made sure we felt supported. A huge thank-you to my mentors, Salome Maldonado (Broad Institute) and Connor Anderson , for their expertise and dedication to our project. You taught my lab partner, Antonio Martinez, and me the importance of biotechnology and shared invaluable advice.

"Overall, I am incredibly grateful for this experience. It brought me together with ambitious and supportive friends with whom I regularly share scholarship opportunities and peer-review college essays. It also allowed me to network with scientists in the Boston area, establishing myself as part of the next generation of researchers. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Cambridge better and admiring the Charles River during my daily commute!"

Check out this video about her research created by Aaliyah and her lab partner, Antonio Martinez:

 

 

About the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

The Broad Institute Website

The Eli and Edythe L. Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, often referred to as the Broad Institute, is a biomedical and genomic research center located in Cambridge, MA.

The Broad Summer Scholars Program | Broad Institute

The Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP) invites highly motivated high school students with a strong interest in science to spend six weeks at the Broad Institute. We match students with Broad scientists to conduct original, cutting-edge research projects in areas such as: cancer biology, psychiatric disease, chemical biology, computational biology, infectious disease, and more. In addition to original research, students will get to explore scientific careers; attend interesting scientific talks; present their research to the Broad community in a scientific poster session; attend a college fair; participate in fun social events; and meet other students who share similar interests.

 

Meet Aaliyah Veloz '26

Aaliyah Veloz '26

Hometown: Lawrence

Middle School: St. Michael School, North Andover

CCHS Activities

• Student Council, Vice President
• Neuroscience Club, President
• National Honor Society, President
• Student Ambassadors
• Student Alumni Association, E-Board
• Art Club
• Peer Leaders

Other Activities

• Club Rowing Team (Greater Lawrence Rowing), Captain
• Sailing Instructor, Summer Boating Program, Abe Bashara Boathouse

Commitment to Service

"At Central I have gotten to work with a lot of food-based needs, and I loved getting creative with the ways we can do that. The thing I love most is the fact that we’re able to give people hope about their situation through the work we’ve done as a community. I wouldn’t want people to feel alone in times of need so I can’t wait to find more ways to make service more abundant and accessible this year. Volunteering helps create kinder hearts."

 

Faculty & Staff Inspiration

"Haha, there are too many!"

"Mr. McCarthy (Mr. Kevin McCarthy, School & College Counselor), Mr. Hebert (Mr. Cameron Hebert '17, Mathematics Teacher), and Dr. Hidalgo (Dr. Evelyn Hidalgo, School & College Counselor) have all uplifted me with whatever I have wanted to accomplish and never let me not reach for the stars. Mr. Hebert always shows his support, whether it’s coming to different sports events or just being there to talk!"

"I’d like to thank Mr. Brown (Mr. Jarrod Brown '98, Mathematics Teacher), Ms. Bolduc (Ms. Bridgette Bolduc, Science Teacher), and Mrs. Labrie (Mrs. Jessica Labrie '09, English Teacher). Whether it was instilling a love for biology, inspiring me with neuroscience ideas, or leading me through the research process, each have shown me a different part of academia that I hold very dearly."

"All of Campus Ministry deserves a huge shoutout for their wisdom and love towards the community at Central."

The Future

"I want to study Neuroscience or Biomedical Engineering (who knows yet!), and I would love to have a good background in research."

What makes CCHS so special?

"The people - they support each person with their entire heart and I have always been able to count on Central to bring the most energy!"

Congratulations, Aaliyah! We can't wait to see what you accomplish next.