2025 KEYS Intern Spotlight: Sophie Gao
More than 350 community members gathered at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Innovation Building in 2025 to view and celebrate the hard work of 65 high school interns from across Arizona. The KEYS Research Internship, held annually since 2007, is an opportunity for Arizona students to immerse themselves in scientific projects and training on a practical and real-world scale, under the guidance of University of Arizona faculty members. The program aims to prepare students to pursue STEM degrees after high school while increasing the talent and diversity at in-state universities.
This year’s cohort of interns were mentored by faculty from the UA Colleges of Science, Medicine, Optical Sciences, Pharmacy, and more. The showcase also introduced its inaugural group of students participating from Phoenix, an important milestone in the program’s outreach and availability to students across the state. In 2025, the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy had multiple faculty members participate, including:
- Tally Largent-Milnes, PhD, mentoring Cole Younger
- Hongmin Li, PhD, mentoring Gracie Im-Pyun
- Haining Zhu, PhD, mentoring Ana Bradley and Tyler Johnston
- Jason Karnes, PhD, mentoring Sophie Gao
Together with their mentors, these students built skills in lab techniques, data science, and science communication, expanding their experience and knowledge of laboratory settings and the scientific process while cultivating their interest in STEM fields. We spoke with one student, Sophie Gao, who gave us some insight into her experience as a KEYS Intern.
“Overall, my experience with KEYS was amazing,” Gao shared. “It turned out to be one of the most memorable summers I've ever had. I learned so much about lab work and science research, and I was able to meet so many new people!”
Gao worked alongside Dr. Karnes on her project, titled “Investigating the Effect of PSG1 Gene Copy Number Variations on Warfarin Dosing." The Karnes lab focuses on advancing drug therapy using genetics by improving efficacy and reducing adverse effects, with an emphasis on communication, learning, collaboration, scientific excellence, and integrity – making it the perfect fit for the KEYS program. During the seven-week program, Gao was able to consult and collaborate with experienced faculty members in a hands-on, supportive environment, leading to her successful presentation during the final Showcase.
The KEYS program is aimed at high schoolers, many of whom have not had the chance to conduct research in a formal lab setting, which can often be intimidating for participants. “The opportunity to do research in high school was both nerve-wracking and exhilarating,” Gao added, emphasizing the importance of faculty and university support during the program. “All of the College of Pharmacy faculty that I worked with or met were so helpful and understanding. Despite being completely inexperienced, I never felt like I was a burden to anyone, and all my questions were answered, regardless of how silly or simple they may have been.”
Since its founding, the KEYS program has graduated 811 students. The program is led by the BIO5 Institute and made possible through the support of BIO5 and generous donors, including individuals, families, companies, foundations, and colleges and departments across the University of Arizona. Graduates of the program have the opportunity to enter higher education having already experienced the rigors and challenges of an academic and laboratory setting – often a crucial boost to student confidence and competence. A key goal of the program is to retain talented students within Arizona’s public universities and workforce. In support of this mission, KEYS interns earn college credit and are offered assured admission to the University of Arizona’s W.A. Franke Honors College upon application and acceptance.
Looking back at her participation, Gao is assured of her desire to continue doing research in the future. “The program allowed me to develop new skills to adequately communicate with other people, both within the field of science or in day-to-day life. The experience I had with this program was truly invaluable.”
KEYS Interns Ana Bradley and Tyler Johnston had similar praise for the program’s benefits. “When you take AP Biology, you hear about genes and proteins,” Bradley commented. “But in the lab, you see how it works and how it might help people someday.” Johnston, already fostering an interest in pharmaceutical science, added, “This experience helped me see how research connects to drug development. I’d love to contribute to creating a new treatment someday.”
We want to offer our warmest congratulations to all who participated in the KEYS Research Showcase, a special thanks to the students who discussed their internship experiences with us, and to all the faculty and KEYS staff who made these opportunities possible. You can read more about Bradley and Johnston’s work in the Zhu Laboratory on the KEYS website, as well as view photos of the Showcase and the 2025 cohort. The 2026 KEYS Program will be held from June 1 – July 17, with applications for 2027 coming this fall.