2026 KEYS intern Hunter Tallsalt joins research team led by Pascale Charest
Isah Toth, Hunter Tallsalt & Dr. Pascale Charest (PC: Caroline Bartelme, BIO5 Institute)
Meet Hunter Tallsalt, a 2026 KEYS intern and a Biochemistry student from the Navajo Nation.
This summer, the Holbrook High School student joined the University of Arizona research team led by Pascale Charest in the University of Arizona College of Science to help answer an important question: How do cells know when to move?
Cell movement is essential for healing wounds and maintaining healthy tissues, but the same processes can also allow cancer cells to spread. Working alongside graduate mentor Isaiah Toth, Tallsalt grew cells, treated them with signaling molecules and analyzed microscope images—contributing to research that could help scientists better understand how cells respond to their environment. Hunter is a new student who will begin this Fall 2026.