Maya Thakar, Bachelor of Science, Baltimore, USA

"As a high school student with minimal laboratory experience, I was very grateful to have had Dr. Jasmin Agarwal as my first mentor during a summer internship at the Johns Hopkins University.

Not only did she teach me a variety of laboratory techniques, but she also made sure that the quality of my data was impeccable. She extended her lessons beyond the laboratory bench to the software that is used to analyze and interpret data in order to translate it into research findings. My level of knowledge and comfort in the laboratory impressed mentors and colleagues that I worked with subsequently. Had it not been for Dr. Agarwal, I would not be as proficient and confident in laboratory techniques as I am today.

The most valuable gift that Dr. Agarwal gave me, however, was that she sparked my interest in cancer research with her methodical and attentive mentorship. This has inspired me to choose a research career in the biological sciences, and after obtaining my bachelor’s degree at the George Washington University, I am about to begin my first job at the very institute where Dr. Agarwal trained me several years ago.

Thank you, Dr. Agarwal!"

Rebeca de Araujo Bravo, Resident Doctor, Pediatric Hospital, Sao Paulo, Brazil

"I was an intern from Brazil at the Johns Hopkins University that never had the chance to work at a real Lab before, let alone did I have the skills to work in a stem cell lab.  So I met Jasmin Agarwal. She was my mentor and friend since day one and during my entire internship program I was able to not only learn different laboratory techniques but understand the fundaments of science from cell culture to western blots in such little time. Her passion for science was contagious!

I will be forever grateful for the privilege of working with Jasmin and having her as my mentor!"

Rebecca Wallrafen, PhD student, Anatomie Göttingen

"Jasmin hat mir wirklich sehr geholfen. Sie hat sich in ihrer Freizeit mit meinem Projekt auseinander gesetzt, und mir verschiedene Lösungswege für meine Probleme vorgeschlagen.

Ich habe dank ihr sehr viel gelernt - nicht nur rein technisch, sondern auch was Projektmanagement und den Umgang mit Frustration angeht.

Sie hatte außerdem immer ein offenes Ohr für mich, nicht nur was mein Projekt betraf, sondern auch das ganze Drumherum. Ich schätze es sehr, dass sie dies vollkommen unentgeltlich in ihrer Freizeit für mich getan hat!"

Dr. Toshihiko Tanno, Staff Scientist, Childrens Research Institute, Washington DC

"Dr. Agarwal excels at bringing people motivation, leading and guiding them. 

I worked as a postdoctoral fellow together with Dr. Jasmin Agarwal for a research project. She actively led the project to be successful with her outstanding scientific skills in cell culture and molecular biology, which eventually provided a novel therapeutic strategy for chemo-resistant cancers.

Our lab had a unique education system, in which PostDocs guided graduate students to do successful presentations at lab meetings with small group brainstorming and practice.

Jasmin was a lead teacher for the students. She pointed out critical scientific or structural caveats in their presentations, then provided beneficial advices to improve their projects."

Prof. Dr. Pardo, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen

"It was nice and easy to work with Jasmin for several years. For a group leader, it is always nice to have someone who not only identifies the possibilities and the problems, but also finds a way to overcome the difficulties and bring the projects to a successful end. This requires not only hard work, but also initiative and lots of creativity. Nevertheless, it always pays off at the end."