MIT Senior Balances Cancer Research, Triathlon, Journalism

A childhood fascination with medical mystery columns in The New York Times has grown into a full-fledged mission to revolutionize cancer treatment.

Alex Tang, an MIT senior graduating this spring, has spent the last three and a half years at the Broad Institute studying how metastatic colorectal cancer responds to combined immunotherapy and targeted molecular therapy. His work focuses on patients with the most difficult prognoses, aiming to give doctors and patients clearer treatment options.

"I hope my work can provide clarity for patients and physicians, and empower them to be confident in their options for care," Tang says. His dedication earned him a Goldwater Scholarship last year, one of the most prestigious awards for aspiring scientists.

But Tang's MIT experience extends far beyond the lab. He joined The Tech student newspaper during his first year and eventually became editor-in-chief, documenting campus life and major events across the diverse MIT community.

The role tested him in unexpected ways. Between his first and second year, Tang found himself the only person producing news content while the paper faced serious financial troubles and staff shortages.

Instead of letting the publication fold, he spent his sophomore fall aggressively recruiting new writers and hunting down funding. The paper survived and continues thriving today.

Why This Inspires

Tang's story shows what happens when passion meets purpose across multiple fields. His journalism experience isn't a distraction from his medical ambitions. It's training for the career he envisions as a physician-scientist.

"You are responsible for taking someone's story, breaking it down, and retelling it," he explains. Those same skills will help him communicate complex medical information to patients facing cancer diagnoses and connect with colleagues across specialties.

Tang also competes in triathlons, pushing his physical limits while juggling lab work and newspaper deadlines. He'll stop mid-experiment when breaking news hits campus because "that's what passion really is about."

This fall, Tang heads to medical school with a clear vision: advancing precision oncology so each cancer patient receives personalized treatment based on their unique tumor biology. He recently led development of a prognostic assay for lung cancer patients, bridging the gap between laboratory discoveries and real clinical improvements.

His approach to every challenge remains consistent. During his toughest semester managing The Tech alone, he learned that success requires both individual dedication and community support.

"The paper wouldn't be here without the people, both students and faculty advisors alike, who bought into The Tech's mission," Tang reflects. The same collaborative spirit drives his research, where learning from expert mentors "at the frontiers of investigating the most challenging questions" has become one of his greatest joys.

One childhood reader of medical mysteries is about to become the doctor writing new chapters in cancer treatment.