BSURF Expectations

In the past week that I have been participating in BSURF, I have found that my expectations were surpassed. Prior to beginning BSURF, I had some background in research and was currently working in the same lab as I am now. With the help of BSURF, however, my research experience has greatly improved.

I feel I am able to better focus on what I am studying – gap junction formation and dynamics using C. elegans as a model system – without outside distraction. Sometimes I feel like I’m taking another class because of how much new information I’m learning. I feel excited to step foot in the lab and start reading reviews on gap junctions or picking up worms under a microscope or viewing PLM neurons and their gap junctions in mutant worms under a fluorescent microscope. Last Friday, I helped my lab manager set up for a talk with the neurogenetics department at the medical center. After his presentation, I got to hear incredibly insightful questions and possible future research directions from brilliant-minded researchers. It made me think of our research topic in many new different ways.

I have also been able to develop closer relationships with my lab manager and other researchers in Yan Lab through working longer hours in a more focused research direction. These researchers have helped grow my research skills and gain more lab competency. I finally feel more confident in the lab and willing to spend time out of the lab researching what I’m doing and thinking about other research directions.

Going forward with BSURF, I expect a similar experience to what I’ve already had this first week. I expect focused research with assistance from helpful faculty, greater confidence in my research skills, and a sense of community with my peers at 300 Swift. I also hope that I can continue the fascinating research I’m doing with my lab right now into the school year to complete more experiments.