For my STEP project, I conducted undergraduate research examining the role of fungi in wetland restoration. My main activities included data analysis and entry, weighing, staining, and plating plant roots for microscopic observation. Once under the microscope, we observed different fungi along plant roots from the wetland environment, and compared them to those that didn’t have fungi, and then evaluated how this impacted plant survival.
While completing my STEP project, I grew to understand how much I enjoy working in a research lab on wetland restoration. I am a pre-med biochemistry student, and I didn’t think I would enjoy environmental research, but I wanted to challenge myself and try something new. My perspective on environmental research has changed, as I have grown to understand the complexity of restoration efforts. It is inspiring that we have the skills to further study and help our environment.
This project also allowed me to grow personally and professionally. I became more confident in my lab skills, data entry, and working in a team setting. Having more confidence in myself reinforced my passion for research, and it made me more eager to continue my pursuits in science and medicine, where I can continue using these lab skills to further contribute to improving our world.
The main activities that led my personal transformation were gaining hands-on experience in the lab and working with colleagues and mentors. Before this project, I only had lab experience from chemistry and biology courses here at OSU and from high school. Usually, these experiments would be started and completed in one class period. Working in the wetland restoration lab was completely different. Over the span of two months, we would perform the same procedures for weeks at a time. This required patience and an understanding of why we must complete these experiments over time. Over time, I learned how to properly stain and plate plant roots for observation. When the roots were finally being observed under the microscope and we were getting results, it was satisfying to look back at how far the research had come.
Another contributor to my growth was learning how to be responsible and organized in a lab setting. One of my tasks was data entry and organization, which plays a huge role in any research team. These contributions made a big difference in the project. Without organization and correct data entry, the research results may be invalid. Being organized and accurate also promotes a good flow in the lab and prevents confusion and backtracking.
The mentorship I received from Dr. Mandy Slate and graduate student Grace Gutierrez played a huge role in my growth as well. Working directly with my mentors was a beneficial experience. They guided me through each step while also allowing me to work individually to learn how a research lab works. Their leadership helped contribute to gaining personal confidence in a lab team setting and in myself. This benefited how I looked at myself and made me realize I am capable of handling further research pursuits. Through interactions with other undergraduate students in the lab, I also learned a lot about teamwork and how I can be an effective communicator.
This transformation is significant because it helped me discover a passion for research and drove my desire to pursue a career in science and medical research. Before this project, I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy research outside of medicine, but the experience showed me that it is important to experience other areas of expertise. Skills like patience, attention to detail, and lab work I gained are essential for my future career in medicine.
The biggest lesson this project taught me is to be uncomfortable and try new things. I met so many great people in this lab and had a great time completing research. The discomfort I experienced trying something new allowed me to gain new skills and strengthen my passion for furthering my research career as a future physician. I have also gained respect for those who contribute to research every day, since they are working to improve our lives every day. As someone who is pursuing medicine, the skills I have gained will improve my medical school applications and bring me one step closer to pursuing my dream of becoming a doctor. Overall, I have learned greatly from my STEP project and believe that this experience will stick with me in my future career as a physician and as an individual.