From unsuccessful electroporation experiments to learning about the linear relationship between chocolate and Nobel prizes, this summer has been filled with meaningful experiences that I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to enjoy.
Working in the Gerecht Lab under my mentor YingYu Lin has opened future possibilities for me. Not only have I learned more about graduate school by conversing with my coworkers but also, I’ve developed the skills to work in a BME lab. Before working, I had no prior experience in cell culture or confocal microscopy. I had never performed staining and did not even know that flow cytometry existed. The types of technologies that I have been exposed to have caused new questions to emerge and this curiosity in me to find the answers.
One of the most important aspects of laboratory research that I learned has been that of troubleshooting. My project this summer was not a long one, yet I was unable to reach my desired results. YingYu and I would succeed in some aspects but once we took the next step it felt like we were going three steps back. Multiple times the phrases “I am so confused right now” and “this makes no sense” would spill out of our mouths bringing forth the sound that represented our state of confusion. And so, we would undergo another round of troubleshooting our failed point. Turns out that the reason our research was unable to be completed was due to contamination of our ETV2 mRNA. Unfortunately, we won’t have more time to complete the study, but I plan to continue working in the Fall. Regardless, I found beauty in the troubleshooting process; it is like a game where one keeps failing at a level but trying repeatedly using different strategies to beat the level. The art of troubleshooting, as unfortunate as it sounds, is a lesson that I learned every single week this past summer at least once; but it kept my curiosity going and my desire to learn “why” certain situations were occurring.
I think about my future after undergraduate school and the idea of working in a lab does not frighten me; the environment I have been surrounded by this summer besides my mentor and all the other graduate students has been very pleasant and I look forward to finding a lab in the future that not only revolves around my interests but also holds a family like behavior within the lab members.
Furthermore, my time outside of the lab has also been full of joyful moments. From canoeing on the Eno to exploring Falls Lake, I have been able to explore more of the Durham area with new friends (shoutout to Amelia and Emma). And I cannot forget to also thank Dr. Grunwald, without your interesting stories, very very funny jokes, and of course your snakes, this summer would have not been the same.
