This past week, I was able to visit Dr. Amacher’s lab and learn about a type of species used in lieu of mice in numerous experiments; zebra-fish. It is a type of fish whose inner organs are transparent through its skin, allowing for many results to be seen far easier than if done on other mediums such as mice. Learning about this species and the methodology used when experimenting with it was fascinating, as it is something I had never heard of before yet is incredible to see. It gave me new insight on a form of research that was entirely new to me, and I was allowed to learn all about the pros and cons of this zebrafish, along with it’s uses in studying multiple diseases such as muscular dystrophy and even certain strands of cancers. While I am already involved in a lab, going on this visit gave me another line of research that is incredibly interesting to me that I will be very keen to get involved in. 

Last month, I got to join Dr. Fus and Dr. Loza for a student-faculty dinner. It was great learning more about the journey that they took to get to where they are now, and the advice that they had to give looking back on what they had done. Getting to see the professor outside of their usual position of teaching was a new experience for me, and being reminded that not everything goes exactly as planned is helping me to keep my options open. 

For my scholars event last month, I attended an anatomy faculty interview, where we were able to ask questions to two of the anatomy faculty members featured in the picture: Dr. Melissa Quinn, and Graduate Associate Allison Foster. While anatomy has not been in my direct radar of what I wish to enter into pertaining to the pre-health industry, it was a great opportunity to ask them about the various differences between the anatomy and medicine route. I knew next to nothing about what it took to enter into anatomy, and from this event I was able to learn more about not only the application process, but what the field entails.