How/Why Research? When I first got to UNC, I did not know whether or not I wanted to pursue a life of research or medicine, so I decided to jump straight into research as soon as possible to help me make that decision. After reading lots of lab descriptions and published papers from each PI, I narrowed it down to three labs I was interested in and started cold-emailing. It did not really work out at first as all the labs had no open spots, but one of the labs reached out to me because they had a sudden opening. I immediately wrote back, did an interview, and was taken in by the Besheer Lab.
Research Experience: In October 2023, I joined the Coleman Lab and started out by slicing rodent brains. This was the first step in the process of protein staining and performing immunofluorescence on the brain slices to determine certain treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. In December 2023, I left the Coleman Lab and joined the Besheer Lab. In the Besheer Lab, I started working on two different projects. One was investigating the effects of a traumatic stressor on the expression of habitual behavior on rodents, and the other was performing fiber photometry on rodents to understand their behavior when self-administering desirable rewards. I presented my research on the traumatic stressor project at UNC’s Celebration of Undergraduate Research in April 2024. I am now working on my own project with RTI International on the effects of Relaxin-79, a hormone released to relax one’s muscles and ligaments, on alcohol self-administration in rodents. Over the past year, I have gained an array of different powerful research skills, all which have helped me understand the process of research. This was valuable to me because I, and many others, spend their undergraduate careers trying to figure out what is best for them, and exposing myself to undergraduate research was what I needed.
Student Organizations/Clubs: Carolina Neuroscience Club, Honors Carolina, Carolina Barbell
Random Fun Fact: I can squat 460 pounds!