Now that I am 6 weeks into my research and do not yet have conclusive results, I understand what Dr. Grunwald meant when we said at the start of the program that we should not be expecting to finish a thesis-worthy project in our 8 short weeks.
The time has flown by, probably because there is always something to do in the lab. I am beginning to see how repetitive research needs to be in order to verify preliminary results. In our lab we are testing 14 different compounds, and a few of them have been shown (or rather, suggested) by our experiments to be in line with our hypothesis. For each compound we do several different tests, and many times we do not get groundbreaking results. I’ve realized this isn’t something to be upset about, and I’ve come to really appreciate the persistent, cautious attitude that my secondary mentor, Dr. Kyoungin Cho, displays at all times in the lab. Rather than jumping to any conclusions, she always says, “We will need to run more tests to verify the result.”
Even though the routine is becoming repetitive, I do not mind doing the same experiments over and over. I am learning to appreciate a few things about this repetitiveness. Above all else, I feel assured that I am being taught very careful, precise research techniques. My PI constantly warns me not to get complacent with my lab habits because this can lead to poor results in the end. He uses a cooking analogy, saying that if he gave a recipe to 2 people, it would taste differently depending on who cooked it. Just like doing each step of recipe carefully culminates in a delicious end product, being meticulous in each step of an experiment will ensure accurate results and prevent mishaps.
Overall, I have really enjoyed the past month and a half. Yes, the project takes a long time, and no, we are not 100% positive we will even get the successful results we would like. However, I have enjoyed every bit of the learning process. I am proud to say I have earned my secondary mentor’s trust in performing many parts of the experiment without her supervision, and I know that it is because I have been fortunate enough to have a teacher as heedful as she is.
