It always amazes me how quickly summer passes when you’re doing research. While every day seems like an endless stream of experiments, the weeks really just slip away. 8 weeks isn’t that long of a span, but it literally seems like I moved into my apartment yesterday. And there’s still so much more work to be done in the lab! I think that my to-do list is actually longer than when I arrived here.
Though I’ve done research before, this program has been quite the valuable experience. At a place as big as Duke, it’s too easy to get caught in your little bubble of research and ignore what’s happening in the bigger picture. After listening to the faculty lectures and chalk talks, I feel that I have a much fuller understanding of the scope of biomedical research here at Duke. Furthermore, the program has been a great opportunity to refine my “scientific communication” skills. As a freshman, you don’t necessarily have material yet to present at most conferences or events. But here, everyone is on the same level and there aren’t any expectations or pressures.
Overall it’s been a wonderful 8 weeks, but I’m definitely ready for a vacation before school! Thank you to the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for making these sorts of opportunities possible for undergraduates across the country. Additionally, thank you to the Luftig lab for hosting me!
See you all next fall!
