In 2022, SIVB returned to in-person annual meetings – an essential part of bringing our community back together. Continuing to stay engaged, motivating each other, and learning from each other is now more important than ever for our Society.
With this in mind, “We’ve Got You!” is a featured series of the In Vitro Report, which shares the stories of SIVB members, new and seasoned, alike. Regardless of your career stage and area of expertise, we hope these reflections encourage and engage you, our students, colleagues, and members, to pursue your research dreams!
In this issue, we are pleased to highlight Charlotte Kemble, a talented and motivated Senior student in Marian High School in Mishawaka, Indiana, and a research intern at IU School of Medicine & University of Notre Dame. Charlotte has already won multiple awards including the 2024 High School International Science and Engineering Fairs (ISEF) in her area. Charlotte reflects on the welcoming, supporting, and inspiring environment she found at SIVB, how it shaped her journey as a young researcher, as well as the sense of purpose and joy that she felt since joining our Society.
We hope that you will enjoy the opportunity to get to know a little more about Charlotte and find her story engaging and inspiring. We look forward to reading your stories in this column soon!
Addy Alt-Holland and Michael Fay
Charlotte Kemble reflects on how joining our Society enhanced her personal and professional growth
Charlotte Kemble
“Thank you SIVB for believing in the power of youth, curiosity, and community!” – Charlotte Kemble
When I first joined the Society for In Vitro Biology, I was a high school student with a deep love for science, but also a lot of unanswered questions about research, about my future, and about whether someone like me – a Slovak American growing up in Mishawaka, Indiana, with a passion for learning – could truly find a place in the broader scientific community. I often felt like an outsider, caught between my cultural heritage and my academic ambitions, unsure where I truly belonged. However, there was one thing I knew for sure: my passion for asking questions and seeking answers. At that time, all I had was curiosity, a deep desire to learn, and the quiet hope that I could grow into someone capable of making a meaningful difference.
From the moment I became a youth member of SIVB, something shifted. For the first time, I felt like I was part of something bigger – a community that didn’t just make room for me but genuinely welcomed me. I was encouraged, uplifted, and inspired in ways that gave me the courage to take my first real steps as a researcher. Because of that support, I’ve had the privilege to work on projects that mean the world to me, exploring the potential of bacteriophages against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and investigating kidney cell toxicity alongside mentors from the IU School of Medicine, the University of Notre Dame, and Harvard. With every experiment and every late-night data session, I felt myself grown, not just as a student, but as a scientist.
Being part of this Society gave me so much more than opportunities—it gave me a voice. It gave me a community of people who care about progress, about mentorship, and about lifting each other up. It taught me that passion and perseverance matter, and that there is always a place for young scientists who are willing to ask questions and chase ideas.”
Presenting my work at science fairs, preparing for national competitions, and even publishing in The In Vitro Report in the Member News – Sci News section of the October-December 2024 IVR issue (issue-58-4) were milestones I once thought were out of reach. But each one came with a deeper sense of gratitude for the people who believed in me, the mentors who guided me, and the community that gave me the confidence to keep going.
What I treasure most about the Society for In Vitro Biology isn’t just the opportunities, it’s the way it made me feel seen. SIVB taught me that even at a young age, my voice matters. My questions matter. That science isn’t just for those who have everything figured out, but for anyone willing to keep learning with heart and honesty. I’ve come to understand that being part of this community means giving back, too. Whether it’s sharing my story, supporting new youth members, or helping others feel less alone in their journey, I want to be for someone else what SIVB was for me — a source of encouragement, belief, and hope. I carry the lessons I’ve learned from this Society into every challenge and every dream.
Thank you, SIVB, for helping me believe that I belong, and for reminding me that curiosity, compassion, and community can shape the future of science.
Charlotte Kemble,
Marian High School in Mishawaka, Indiana
