At the beginning of the summer, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I had enjoyed lab work and studying genetics in class, but I had been clearly guided through all of my previous experiences. When beginning my project, I felt like I was jumping into an obscure and expansive ocean, with a single semester of molecular biology to cling to. The papers I was given were difficult to understand, and the sheer number of genes, with their 3-letter names and numbers, all blurred together. However, I wasn’t scared. I knew that the other BSURF fellows felt the same way, and I had lots of people to support me.
I want to thank Dr. Grunwald, Dr. Harrell, Grace, and Kehali. Knowing that I could always go to them throughout the program was really helpful, and I appreciated the efforts made to teach us about various aspects of research beyond the science itself. I especially enjoyed our series of faculty seminars, which were incredibly interesting and showed me how many paths there are to take through science.
I am especially grateful for my mentor, Ivan, and my PI, Dr. Baugh. I felt very supported and I always had someone to go to in case I was unsure of anything. I think that the confidence that they showed in me from the beginning was key to developing my faith in my own abilities. This summer has allowed me to grow so much as a scientist, in my skills as well as my ability to plan and carry out experiments on my own. While I struggled to get through papers and make sense of my project at the beginning of the summer, by the end I was excited to dive in and find clues for explanations and future directions.
My goal for this summer was to find out what a career in research is like, and figure out if that is what I want. I think it’s safe to say that BSURF has only reinforced my love of biology and scientific research. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
