How/Why Research? I’ve always been into research, starting back in high school when I did two projects and really saw what I was learning come to life. When I came to college, I kept my interest by joining the Lai Lab, which I found through the OUR research opportunities database. After the grad student I worked with graduated, I found a research assistant job through Handshake, working with large sample sizes. It was interesting, but I realized I liked more detailed, hands-on experiments. Therefore, when I heard the Graves Lab was looking for undergraduates, I decided to join. I’m glad that I made the choice and have been enjoying the experience ever since
Research Experience: My first research in college involved antibody engineering, where I learned essential experimental procedures for proteins, including running Native Page Gel and setting up minipreps. I employed muco-trapping assays to assess the functionality of engineered proteins and their interactions with different formats. Additionally, I also served as a Student Research Assistant in the Chatham County COVID-19 Study, processing testing samples and analyzing data to contribute to the understanding of the pandemic’s local impact. My most recent project involved investigating the expression of hypocretin (hCRT) in zebrafish, focusing on its presence in the enteric nervous system. I used whole mount immunohistochemistry and confocal imaging to evaluate qualitatively and qPCR quantitively. Research makes me more detail oriented, and improves my critical thinking skills and manual dexterity.
Student Organizations/Clubs: Embracing Dental Research Journal Club, Carolina Cancer Association, Undergraduate Healthcare Club, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Carolina Research Scholar
Random Fun Fact: I like skiing.