My first introduction to “laboratory work” was in the world of my uncle’s old Spider-Man comics, in which hasty human trials led to Dr. Curtis Connors becoming the infamous villain, the Lizard. Although this may disappoint potential readers, I am delighted to say that my first few weeks of lab work have not included anything of the sort. I don’t expect to fight any reptilian super villains in the near future (even if Dr. Grunwald’s snake collection would make a worthy foe). And yet, I am excited to begin my research experience this summer!
I’m currently working in the Kiehart Lab at Duke University, which examines cell sheet morphogenesis and dorsal closure in flies. The people in my lab are remarkable, and I feel incredibly lucky to work under them. I’m particularly thankful to Dr. Kiehart, Dr. Crawford, and Melissa Sican for helping me these past few weeks. I’ve learned so much, yet every new technique I learn opens up a new swarm of questions. That experience, however, is what I love the most. I love being presented with real-life challenges and working to overcome them, even if my efforts are sometimes unsuccessful. I don’t plan on making it to the cover of Nature Journal this summer; however, I look forward to learning how to solve problems in a scientific setting, approach setbacks, and collaborate with others for better success.
While my interest in biology may have started with Spider-Man, I look forward to getting a glimpse of what it means to be a scientist in this world. I hope to learn how to approach problems, learn new skills, and collaborate in a scientific setting. Many challenges await me this summer and beyond––I can’t wait to begin!
Buzzing with Excitement: The Start of a New Adventure!
Categories: BSURF 2023