Jake Robbins, Benjamin Franklin ‘28

From Farm to the Lab: Jake Robbins on Curiosity, Courage, and HIV Research

Written by Ashley Raffaeli

Edited by Charlie Wong

Jake Robbins is a sophomore in Benjamin Franklin College, double majoring in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and English. Originally from rural Texas, Jake grew up on a farm and attended a high school with limited access to scientific resources. His love for science was largely self driven, fueled by online materials, books, and a persistent curiosity. At Yale, Jake has immersed himself across disciplines. He is an editor for the Yale Daily News, a contributing writer for the Yale Scientific Magazine, and a peer health educator with the Community Health Educator Program. Despite his deep involvement in writing and public service, research has become one of his most formative experiences. Currently, Jake works in the Anderson Laboratory at the Yale School of Medicine, which specializes in structural biology. The lab’s primary focus is HIV, particularly characterizing the structure and function of HIV reverse transcriptase to uncover potential drug targets. Jake was drawn to this work because of its real world implications for treatment and global health. Although he entered Yale with no previous lab experience, Jake reached out to professors whose research inspired him. That is how he found his place in the Anderson Lab.

He speaks highly of the lab’s collaborative environment and credits much of his growth to the mentorship of graduate students Lindsay Njanja and Klarissa Hollander. He describes the lab as a space that encourages questions and nurtures curiosity. This supportive environment has allowed Jake to build both technical and conceptual skills in research, and it has deepened his interest in pursuing an MD and PhD. He sees science as not only a method of discovery, but also a human process—one shaped by dialogue, exploration, and care. To other first year students, especially those who may not have had access to research opportunities in high school, Jake offers encouragement. “Be bold. Be unafraid of asking questions. That is how you grow,” he says. His story is a reminder that initiative and passion matter just as much as prior experience. Whether on a farm in Texas or in a lab at Yale, the drive to understand and improve the world can begin anywhere.