How/Why Research? My explorative personality made research my priority in my undergraduate education. I received my research position by taking the class IDST 184 with Dr. Pleasants. Thanks to our unit on constructing a cold email, I carefully created and sent an introductory message to the Baldwin lab and was fortunate to receive an interview. Entering into undergraduate research is overwhelming and nerve-wracking. Despite feelings of insecurity in my first few months in the lab, the support from my P.I. and other lab mates allowed me to grow in confidence as a budding researcher. I hope to share these learned experiences in the lab and in class to ease the overwhelming transition into research for other new students interested in Undergraduate Research.
Research Experience: During my time at the Baldwin lab, I have honed my laboratory techniques and was given the position of head genotyper as an undergraduate, where I navigate our lab database to record our mouse colony. I organize when animal samples are taken, when animals are weaned, when animals are euthanized, and other colony management activities. I worked for months to obtain my IACUC (Institutional Animal Use and Care Committee) certification to perform animal research, where I am able to complete perfusions, injections, euthanasia, and other complex animal work. I am also certified on the cryostat (which is an instrument to section brain tissue) and Olympus microscope. My research question is, “what is the cell adhesion molecule hepaCAM doing at astrocyte-synapse contacts, and why is this important in MLC (megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy)?” This complicated wording can be simplified into, “how does a protein’s expression affect brain cells that relate to a rare form of leukodystrophy?” I work alongside my mentor, Dr. Katie Baldwin, to learn new techniques and establish my own mouse colony to answer these questions and will use staining to dissect and analyze brain tissue. I am lucky to have the opportunity where my work may aid in discovering information about an under-researched form of leukodystrophy that can impact peoples’ lives. Though research is a daunting topic, it has been the highlight of my undergraduate career and I cannot wait to discuss it with anyone who is interested!
Student Organizations/Clubs: SHAC (Student Health Action Coalition) as a Spanish interpreter, Accelerated Research Program, Honors Carolina
Also Happy to Chat about: Transition to Carolina from a small town, experience of being a military dependent in college, pre PhD path
Random Fun Fact: I enjoy my second major in Hispanic Linguistics! I use this language skill to study dialect and am a frequent volunteer in local free dental and medical clinics to translate Spanish for patients that come in. I hope to use this skill during or after my PhD to educate Spanish-speakers about mental health medications.