These previous eight weeks have shown me a glimpse of the passion, the dedication, and the heart that constantly propel research forward. I had the opportunity to work in a lab whose research is leading the way in understanding heart regeneration in zebrafish. I was also fortuitously paired with my wonderful mentor, whose career as a physician scientist has opened my eyes to a novel career path and has affirmed my convictions to pursue medicine.
Through my research project, I acquired many new skills. While I initially struggled to match pipettes with the correct pipette tips, I can now pipette various solutions into many Eppendorf tubes while simultaneously running a gel, a PCR reaction, and cloning bacteria. I also learned the art of multi-tasking, a skill that my mentor puts into daily practice and has contributed significantly to the success of my project. I have fallen in love with zebrafish (I must admit that they are my favorite organisms to work with) and have realized that injections and heart surgeries are probably my most favorite skills I’ve learned this summer. Most importantly, I have become a sponge – constantly absorbing information through osmosis by hearing, observing, and recording the mini-lectures, lessons, and protocols of my mentor and fellow lab colleagues.
These 8 weeks have been so valuable to me in regards to the relationships I have had the opportunity to make, the skills I have attained, new knowledge I have acquired, and a new outlook on research and science. Research has also given me a renewed confidence in myself and my abilities to continue my pursuit of science and medicine, especially as a female scientist. I cannot thank my mentor, my PI, my lab, Dr. G, and KP enough for this enriching experience that has really solidified my goals and has immersed me into the dynamic world of science. I will miss the camaraderie, the novelty of discovery, the immersion, and the passion and love that was always present throughout my research experience. While heart regeneration may not be completely understood, I know for sure that my heart has grown a little bigger from all the love that I have experienced this summer. I can’t wait to see the direction research in heart regeneration takes along with the different career paths that my fellow Howard Hughes students will pursue.
