Meet Khadijah Mazhar
I am also grateful that I was able to meet and learn from the other members of my lab, especially my post-doctoral mentor, and they were always eager to teach me both about their studies and their experiences as researchers.
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My Experience:
This fellowship provided a great opportunity for me to understand the life of a scientist and confidently answer the question about whether I would enjoy becoming one in the future (to which the answer is yes). I received the privilege of working in the lab of Dr. Kimberly Huber and learning about the synaptic plasticity and autism research her lab is conducting; my project examined a priming mechanism for mGluR-induced Arc production and how it is affected in an animal model offragile X syndrome. Through lab meetings and discussions, I also learned about the different mechanisms others were tackling to better understand memory formation and disorders that affect it. I am also grateful that I was able to meet and learn from the other members of my lab, especially my post-doctoral mentor, and they were always eager to teach me both about their studies and their experiences as researchers. Through the Green Fellowship, I was also able to become a member of the UT-Southwestern community and attend university-wide lectures and presentations, which provided great insight into cutting edge biomedical research and the process of scientific discovery. |
My Advice:
Reading scientific publications relevant to the specific questions and mechanisms your lab is investigating is probably the most important means by which you can prepare yourself. In addition to providing needed background knowledge, it can also give you an understanding of how researchers tackle complex questions through a sequence of experiments. This experience will allow you to interact with the UTSW community and hear from leading scientists and physicians. The Green Fellowship itself provides an opportunity in which you explore many aspects of the process of research. However, it also places you in a setting filled with opportuinites from which you can learn and grow, so make sure to look out for them and take them. Don't be afraid to ask questions. |
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