What does research mean to you? Where do I start? That’s such a deep question... I love research. I have since I started in my first lab the sophomore year of my undergrad in Fall 2016. It means spending countless of hours, days, weeks, maybe even longer working and hoping for the stars of science to align for a clean Western Blot, for an uncontaminated cell culture, for significant results. I’m definitely exaggerating in my personal definition of research. Research has become an integral part of my life. I have made very close friends, important connections with professionals, and gained both technical and life experience through research. Research ultimately means various things; a possible dream career, a hobby, an avenue on which I can learn more of myself and the world.
Tell us about your journey. I think I addressed that right above... :)
Advice for Future Green Fellows
Definitely make your time here at UT Southwestern worthwhile. Attend department seminars, ask questions in your lab meetings, become friends with one another! Talk to your PI!
Be aware of where you fall in your project and create a prospective timeline for your project(s). I took time for granted and ultimately found myself with not much data to speak of. At the same time however, it is perfectly reasonable to reach the end of the five months and find that one’s hard-concerted efforts did not result in much. Science is neverguaranteed, and it is something that anyone who wants to pursue a career in science will have to understand and will experience. At moments, it can definitely feel disheartening but it’s not always like that; that’s the scientific process. As a wise man named Stu, once said, “We’ve become professionals at delayed gratification!”.