Preceptorship Blog #2

Tasha Bruner : Dr. Lucas : 03/03/2022

Over these past weeks, I have been able to meet with Dr. Lucas virtually and in-person. In our first meeting, we had proper introductions, and we discussed some of the aims of the class and what skills and development I was hoping to get out of the preceptorship. We also reviewed some of the ways I could get involved with his research. In the next meeting, we decided on a project that I can help with to further his research aims and expose me to human projects that meld engineering with medicine. The overarching project goal is to focus on building a set up and experiment for examining electrocorticography of human patients that have intracranial electrodes implanted for seizure monitoring. We went over the specific aims for the current project and reviewed the project in more detail. This project aims to help better understand the conscious and unconscious states of the human brain by recording brain state changes while patients undergo different scenarios throughout the day. I will be establishing experimental apparatus and tasks that focus on human ECoG during transitions of consciousness for these patients with intracranial electrodes. I will also be in contact with a medical student at Perelman School of Medicine to discuss this project, a contact of Dr. Lucas!

Tanisha and I were able to meet with Dr. Lucas for an informal coffee and donuts session to discuss any topics we had questions on. We talked about our backgrounds and how we got to where we are today, along with what areas of interest Tanisha and I have for our futures, including research and job interests. Dr. Lucas gave us a background on his experiences of getting his MD and PhD, as well as pros and cons of working in industry versus an academic university hospital. He discussed the division of where his time is spent during the week, including surgery and seeing patients, conferences, and working with his company and doing research. We also spent quite some time discussing gene therapy, primarily three main areas of growing interest for gene therapy: CRISPR-Cas9, CAR T-cell therapy, and nanoparticles to reach all areas of the body (like crossing the BBB). We talked about these ideas of discovery and the process from idea to market, along with some of the difficulties with intellectual property and the valley of death for many drugs and devices. We are hoping to get permission to go to the OR and watch a procedure soon as well!

3/04/2022

I have met virtually with the medical student, and we have been able to talk about some of the main ideas of the consciousness project. We talked briefly about the patients used for data acquisition on this project. These individuals are usually epileptic patients with intracranial electrodes (iEEG) to monitor their brainwaves and determine the seizure onset zone within the brain. With these electrodes already placed inside the skull, researchers are using this to work on different areas of research to help further our understanding of the brain. This project is looking at sensory responsiveness of these patients, while analyzing their brain waves to determine when someone is conscious versus unconscious.  We talked briefly about the hardware that goes into collecting these iEEGs from the patients within the OR, which is then uploaded through MATLAB for data analysis. There is raw data being collected for a baseline, and then there is additional data being retrieved through a “task” that the patients go through of listening to an auditory sense through headphones and pushing a button when they hear the stimuli. There are other scenarios in which data is being collected as well. After data acquisition, there is signal processing to find the modulus of the eigenvalues to look at brain criticality, a hypothesis about the stable and unstable states of the brain.

Preceptorship Blog #1

Tasha Bruner : Dr. Lucas : 2/17/2022

Due to conflicting schedules, I have not been able to meet with my preceptor, Dr. Lucas, for a meeting. However, we have a meeting scheduled for next week, and I am very excited to get acquainted with my preceptor. During our first meeting, we plan to discuss introductions of ourselves, my BME interests and career goals, a broad introduction to neurological intersections for biomedical engineering, and a discussion of some of the short term projects that my partner and I can be a part of. Dr. Lucas is a neurosurgeon, and I am very excited to get into the OR with him and understand with engineering applications and innovations he uses during surgery. Some of the clinical experiences he has worked with include neuromodulation, minimally invasive neurosurgery, epilepsy, and temporal lobectomy, and I am hoping to learn these procedures and techniques, along with the engineering technologies that help patients. I am also hoping to become involved in a project through Dr. Lucas’ work at NeuroTech Institute that works with neurotechnologies to help improve patient’s lives. I am really wanting to work within a diverse team that combines clinicians and engineers, and I think working on experiments and research projects with this company will be really beneficial for me to learn. I have never worked with in vivo experiments, and I will be focusing on how to apply engineering techniques in a clinical lab. Also looking into areas of research and interest of Dr. Lucas, he has recently been involved in a paper dealing with a patient-derived glioblastoma organoid and looking at the heterogeneity of the tumor. Cancer research is very interesting to me, and I am very excited to learn more!

Freshman Year Review

My first year at Ohio State has had its ups and downs. I started out in Biomedical Engineering, and so far I have stuck with that plan and applied to Biomedical, Chemical, and Biological Engineering. My favorite course I have taken so far was Math 1151 (Calculus 1), and I learned the importance of having a great professor who cares for their students. I got to know this professor very well through office hours and other conversations via email, and he later helped me through a research application process. I learned that I truly love the subject of calculus and how much it challenges my mind. Even though I didn’t get into the research position, I hope to reach out to more professors and open new doors for myself. My future goal is to do cancer research and save lives, and I hope that Ohio State will give me a sturdy background to complete this goal later in my life. However, classes have been difficult and tough to handle at times, especially chemistry labs. Outside of the classroom, I have learned to love my roommates from scholars. They are by far my closest friends on campus, and I can’t wait to live with them again next year. I would love to get more friends next year and talk to new people, and I hope to network with more professors and faculty. I played intramural soccer and I joined a one credit hour racquetball class that I love, and I’m hoping to do more intramural sports next year. I am also training for a half marathon with my roommate, which keeps me in shape and helps me enjoy the wonderful trail along the Olentangy River. Looking back on my first year, I have definitely grown more independent. Before college, the longest I had been away from my family was one week. So at the beginning of the semester, I was definitely sad and struggling from being away from my parents and sister. Now, I am more responsible and willing to step out of my comfort zone. Also, my knowledge in calculus, chemistry, and engineering has definitely grown, and I’m trying my best to succeed in difficult classes. My favorite memory from the past year was running onto the field after Ohio State beat Michigan in football. I will forever love that game, and I’m so thankful that I got to experience Ohio State destroying Michigan once again. Next year, I am looking forward to joining more clubs and making new friends. I’m excited to finally get into an engineering major and start specific courses that aren’t general weed out classes. I’m excited to come back to a new start where I already know individuals on campus and I’m not as scared to go away from home. Next year, I also want to experience the city of Columbus and go to more restaurants. In order to do this, I need to get a job on campus next year so that I have more spending money. I am also joining STEP next year, where I’m hoping to receive money to study abroad in Spain and work on my Spanish speaking skills. I can’t wait to meet the incoming ENR Scholars students and connect and grow with them as well! The outlook on my future here at OSU is positive, and I’m excited to see where it leads me.

 

Spring Break 2019

Over the 2019 Spring Break, I went back to my hometown of Tipp City, Ohio. I got to see my parents and pets, two dogs and three cats. Over the first weekend, I focused on exercising and taking care of my body. I had been overwhelmed with school assignments the last couple weeks leading up to Spring Break, and I needed time to focus on my physical health. I’m also training for a half-marathon and mileage is getting heavier, so I got new running shoes and inserts to replace my worn down track running shoes. With this new adventure, I am becoming more confident in myself and my body. Then at the beginning of the week, I got out my wisdom teeth. I focused the majority of this break on getting a responsible task done that required resting time over a longer break. For the next couple days, I did small chores around the house and slept a lot due to the medicine. I went to two lacrosse games for one of my high school friends, which were very fun to watch. I’m definitely going to go to an Ohio State lacrosse game now, and I’m hoping it will be just as fun as the experience I had back home. Then at the end of the week, my family’s oldest cat, Sandy Claws, had her left eye removed. Her recovery process was difficult, and together we were the patients of the family. Over the last weekend, my sister came home from Bowling Green for the start of her Spring Break, and my family went out to eat at a nicer, local restaurant the night before I left. Overall, Spring Break was most definitely a needed time away from school, and I’m glad I got a productive task completed. These breaks allow me to spend time with my loving family, and I have learned to value the limited time I’m given to spend with them.

Columbus To-Do List #2

For this Columbus To-Do List, I completed an event from the Sports & Games List. For this event, I went to a Columbus Crew game versus the Colorado Rapids on September 22, 2018 in MAPFRE Stadium. For this game, I sat in the Nordecke section, which is the rowdy section that stands and cheers the whole game. They hold up Crew flags and shoot up streamers and yellow and black fog whenever the Crew scores and/or win a game. I got to experience this first hand when the Crew won 2-1. This section was a lot of fun, and before this, I had never been introduced to such a high-energy, upbeat section of a sporting event. The people around me were very into the cheers and celebrating, and they were very friendly towards others. It was amazing to see such dedication to a soccer team and a true love towards Columbus. Coming to Ohio State was the first time I had ever been introduced to the city of Columbus, and this event was a major positive for me. I would love to go back to another Columbus Crew game and sit in the Nordecke section again. I’ve played soccer for fourteen years, so I was able to follow the game and enjoy it even more. This was the first professional soccer game I have ever been to as well, and I loved every second of it. I will definitely recommend this event to others looking for a fun event to attend, especially on the weekends.
When recommending this event to others, I would definitely warn them about sitting in the Nordecke section. This section is not for everyone, and it is important knowledge to share with others looking to go to a Crew game. At some point for a Columbus Crew game, I will purchase a ticket in the normal seating area where you can sit and just watch the game. There was nothing I really found confusing about this event because I know the ins and outs of the sport of soccer. One of the Colorado Rapids players got a red card during the game, and it was interesting to watch the event go down. This event has led me to desire going to a Columbus Blue Jacket’s hockey game, and I hope that the strong spirit of Columbus is found at the hockey event as well. I would love to go to a hockey game because I’ve never been to one before, and I would love to expand my experiences with sports games.
Overall from the Columbus To-Do List Activity, I learned that the city of Columbus has so much to offer, through cultural, educational, sporting, social, culinary, and recreational events. Columbus has a great spirit and accepting atmosphere. I would love to have friends and family visit me here in Columbus, and now I can offer fun events to do not just on campus, but across the whole city of Columbus!

Columbus To-Do List

I was very excited for the Columbus To-Do List because I have never had the opportunity to explore Columbus and see what this beautiful city has to offer. I was most interested in the Local Food Favorites category because I’m always looking for neat and delicious food to try. I don’t have the opportunity to make full meals here in college, so it is nice to explore the city while trying good food at the same time. I am most looking forward to trying out new, local restaurants because they always have the best atmospheres and welcoming staff. With this assignment, I hoped to learn more about the city of Columbus and the great places to eat. When my family and friends come to visit, I would love to have a list of great places to eat around the city. I also wanted to learn how to use the bus system while traveling to different restaurants, and I feel a little bit more comfortable with this form of transportation now. I have been to two local restaurants in Columbus so far: Jack & Benny’s and Northstar Cafe. I went to Jack & Benny’s with two of my roommates for breakfast, and I ordered a pumpkin pancake, with a bowl of grits and coffee. Thewaitress we had was extremely nice, but some of the other staff seemed a bit uptight and rude. Their hours are a little bit inconvenient because they close everyday at 3 pm. I know they are a breakfast place, but I wish they stayed open longer. However, the overall experience was very nice, the food was delicious, and I left feeling satisfied. I will definitely go back to Jack & Benny’s, and I recommend this restaurant to others. I also recently went to Northstar Cafe, and I ordered the Village Salad with the Shooting Star drink, which is a carrot and orange juice. I have never tried a juice like that before, and it was a little weird at first, but I ended up really enjoying it. The Village Salad was extremely flavorful as well, and it included chicken, avocado, goat cheese, almonds, and croutons with champagne vinaigrette. The food was very good, and the atmosphere was even better. The menu itself is pretty expensive and there wasn’t a huge variety of items to choose from, which are the downfalls I saw of the Northstar Cafe. Overall, I definitely recommend the Northstar Cafe and Jack & Benny’s to anyone looking for local restaurants in Columbus.

 

 

Career Exploration

I recently completed a Holland Code (RIASEC) test. This test breaks down different occupations into six categories, and rates the categories for each tester based on their responses to the questions in the test. The categories were listed as Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Entrepreneurial, and Conventional. My top three categories in increasing order were Entrepreneurial, Social, and Investigative, which reported me as an ISE. The Investigative category was at the highest potential it could be, and I had zero points in the Realistic category. The United States Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration sorted different occupations based on the Holland Code categories and their combinations. I had six occupation matches with my test results. My first result was a Community Health Worker, which was shown with a bright outlook for the future. I have never thought about this job before, and it doesn’t spark much interest from me. The second match was a dietitian and nutritionist, which I have put thought into pursuing, but I didn’t continue along with this job. A nutritionist and dietitian help someone follow specific food guidelines and plans based on their health evaluations. These health professionals are highly knowledgeable in food, nutrition, and health, which I find extremely interesting. The third result was an Instructional Coordinator, which focuses on the school community. These coordinators help schools follow specific governmental guidelines, curriculums, and teaching standards. I have never thought about this job before, and I think I would rather focus more on health or environmental issues. The fourth match was a Postsecondary Law Teacher, and the fifth result was an Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator, or Hearing Officer. Neither of these last two jobs particularly appeal to me and my goals for the future. The sixth, and last, result was a Postsecondary Business Teacher. Both the area of business and teaching do not match my current career plans. Right now, I am pre-majoring in Biomedical Engineering, and I am surprised that I didn’t receive any matches with engineering. I am unsure if I’m going to stay within Biomedical Engineering, but I know I am going to stay within the engineering field in general. I am also interested in Biological Engineering and Environmental Engineering, and I recently had a meeting with my Academic Advisor to discuss what each major involves, including jobs, school curriculums, and future outlooks. With my scheduled classes, I will be able to apply to all three interested majors by the start of my sophomore year. I am also interested in getting a Spanish minor, and hopefully I will get the opportunity to study abroad to complete some of this minor through the STEP Program. Within my four undergraduate years at OSU, I would like to get involved in research, either through a professor or nearby hospital. The type of research definitely depends on the major I end up in. My goal is to do cancer research within Biomedical Engineering, molecular genetics or animal science research within Biological Engineering, and water and air quality testing within Environmental Engineering. I plan to go to Graduate School after my four years at OSU as well. After doing online research about available jobs in each of the three possible engineering fields, I found that prior hands-on research and involvement in the field would be a huge advantage in the work field. For Biomedical Engineering, I found available jobs including Research Associate, Bioenvironmental Engineer, Biomedical Technicians and Engineers, and Research Software Developer. In Biological Engineering, there are available jobs as a Clinical Data Specialist, Civil Engineer, Project Wastewater Engineer, and Quality Supervisor. For Environmental Engineering, I found available jobs as a Water Resource Engineer, Environmental Scientist, and multiple jobs as a Civil Engineer on various topics. Overall, this RIASEC test was not in line with my current academic plans of engineering, but the given results did represent a few of my interests. I hope to take advantage of the research opportunities and connections here at Ohio State to set myself up for a successful future with a career that captions my passions.

 

I had a meeting with my Saplings mentor today, and we discussed multiple topics including academics, involvement, ENR scholars, careers, and general advice. My mentor is Kayla Flick, and she is a sophomore majoring in Chemcial Engineering. The first topic we discussed was academics, and I asked Kayla: “What has been your most challenging major class? What advice do you have to get through it successfully?”. She told me that her hardest class freshman year was Chemistry 1220 with Ted Clark, which I will be taking next semester. Kayla said that this was the first time she really had to teach herself new information in chemistry. The exams and midterms were hard, and she had to put a lot of time and effort into class. I will definitely go into this class prepared to work hard, and I know that how much effort I put into the class will determine what I get out of the class. Kayla and I are both on engineering tracks right now because I’m in pre-Biomedical Engineering. The second question was about involvement: “ How have you chosen to get involved on campus?”. Kayla holds a leadership position in Engineers Without Borders, and she’s also involved in the Casual Sports Club and the STEP Program. She wants to use the STEP program for an internship or studying abroad. I want to be a part of STEP my second year as well, and hopefully use the opportunity to travel abroad. The next question was “What ENR Scholars opportunities are you glad you participated in?”. Kayla told me that last year, her top three favorite ENR events were the camping trip, the Spring Break Backpacking trip, and a trip to a park close to Columbus that had bison. She’s also excited for the ENR Halloween party this year, which I’m excited for as well. The next question I asked Kayla was about her career: “What do you plan to do with your major after graduation (enter workforce, graduate/professional school, travel, etc.)?”. At this point in her life, Kayla is thinking about entering the workforce and possibly doing research for a private company that is independent of OSU and the government. She would like to travel some in the future as well. She is unsure on whether or not she wants to go to graduate school at this point, saying that she might go to the workforce for a couple years and then go to graduate school after. The future is still open. The last topic was about a miscellaneous topic, and I asked Kayla “What advice do you wish someone gave you your freshman year?”. Kayla told me to Tapingo everything for food; never wait in line. She also told me to try the food at Oxley’s. Kayla also informed me of Venmo, which most people use to transfer money and pay dues for clubs and other instances where you need to pay for something. She recommended that I download the app on my phone, which connects with your bank account. I had a really good time talking to Kayla, and I’m really excited to have her as my mentor throughout my freshman year at OSU.

-Tasha Bruner

Social Media

LinkedIn : Tasha Bruner, bruner.103@buckeyemail.osu.edu

Email: bruner.103@buckeyemail.osu.edu

Instagram: tashabruner_

Twitter: @BrunerTasha

Snapchat: tbruner00

GOALS

What do the GOALS mean to me and how will I try to achieve these goals.

Global Awareness= studying abroad, learning the culture and language of a Spanish speaking country

Original Inquiry= undergraduate research in a lab

Academic Enrichment= pre-biomedical engineering

Leadership Development= internships and clubs around the university, intramural soccer, Biomedical Engineering Society

Service Engagement= ENR scholars to give back to the environment, study abroad, church mission trips