2019 Outstanding Educational Volunteer, Dr. Aida Hidalgo.
SoundBio Lab cannot operate without the help of volunteers. We are in debt to all of them, particularly those who support our youth.
Dr. Aida Hidalgo moved to the Seattle metro area from the UK two years ago. As a trained scientist with a MSc in clinical microbiology and a PhD in bacterial genetics, she was looking for different scientific volunteer opportunities. Aida is passionate about the concept of ‘science for all’ and supports organizations that promote access, inclusion, and diversity. Her search quickly led her to SoundBio Lab where she jumped in immediately to donate her time and skills.
In the lab, Aida helped to support and mentor a large iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine competition) team of over 40 high school students. Many of these students were new to the lab environment and needed guidance. Aida, along with a team of advisors, provided significant scientific mentorship so they could safely and effectively pursue their project. Aida donated countless hours towards this effort which ultimately led the team to a bronze medal in their category with their Bacto-Basics project.
Beyond lab work, Aida soon became an invaluable volunteer for our educational outreach program. SoundBio attended 14 different educational events in 2019 and Aida contributed to 8 of them, donating over 24 hours of service. This dedication in serving some of our vulnerable youth is part of SoundBio’s core mission and why Aida directed much of her energy towards it. We can’t thank Aida enough for her many contributions to SoundBio Lab!
““I am very fortunate to help while doing something I really love and care about””
