Often there is no better way to learn than to be fully thrust into the midst of a challenging new situation. That became clear very quickly to me within my first few weeks as an undergraduate researcher in the Harper Cancer Research Institute at the University of Notre Dame. On my first day, I was learning hands-on how to work with cancer cell lines in a sterile environment. By the end of my first week, I had learned how to use a complex (and admittedly, futuristic-looking) microscope to take images like the one featured here. By the end of my first month, I’d gained confidence in a plethora of lab techniques and procedures. Now, nearly 8 weeks in, I’m preparing to present the data I’ve collected on a potential new pH biosensor (pictured here expressing in human cancer cells). It’s a tool that, with further refinement and optimization, could contribute significantly to the work of other researchers and help illuminate the complex role of intracellular pH dynamics in cancer. As always, scientific research requires more than competence in the lab. Equally important is the ability to communicate one’s results in a way that is confident, clear, and invites questions and further investigation. In weekly lab meetings, I have gotten the chance to hear from several graduate students as they present their
research. While they’ve all been very informative about whatever niche that student has devoted their graduate studies to, the more important lessons I’ve learned are about how to present data and results in ways that are engaging, informative, and scientifically sound. The discussions I’ve been part of this summer have been exciting and stimulating and have challenged me to think about science in new ways. I feel immensely lucky to be spending my summer here. The team of graduate students and postdocs in the White Lab have been incredibly friendly, welcoming, and helpful in empowering me to pursue my research interests. My time here has fueled my passion for research, something I hope to pursue as I work towards a career in medicine. I started this summer with the goal of learning as much as I could about biochemistry lab work, and this lab has helped me meet that goal each and every day. I could not be more grateful to all of the members of the White Lab, but in particular I’d like to thank my mentor, Julia Spear, and my PI, Dr. Katharine White, for sharing with me their knowledge and their excitement for research.
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