July 23, 2018, Filed Under: 2018, learning, researchResearch Progress So Far I am Fawaz Mohsin, an Economics and Biomedical Engineering major from the University of Connecticut. I am doing research through the BME CUReS REU in Thomas Milner’s Lab this summer, which specializes in imaging and diagnostics. We have had several challenges that we have had to overcome, as well as many successes. We are conducting experiments with the Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane Assay(CAM). The CAM assay is basically when we expose the innards of a developing chick egg in order to observe and test on it’s vasculature. Developing chick eggs in the lab The reason our lab is using the CAM assay is to practice using our 1070 laser to coagulate blood vessels. Why is this important? In many surgeries, patients can die from bleeding out. If we can coagulate blood vessels using the 1070 laser, surgery can be performed without any fear of losing too much blood. The problem is that we need to pin down the specific intensities, powers, and durations of laser beam needed to coagulate blood vessels of different sizes at different depths beneath the skin. In order to do this, we need to collect many data points and recognize a trend. On top of this, the procedure we were following for the CAM assay was producing a very low yield, with high risk of infection. Through trial and error, I was able to perfect our procedure to produce a high yield of healthy, developing eggs – with a lower chance of infection. On top of this, we have had several successes in using the 1070 laser to coagulate blood vessels, giving us several data points. As I reflect back on my summer thus far, I am grateful to have been given such an amazing opportunity to broaden my skills and participate in research. The skills I am gaining could not have been learned anywhere else. -Fawaz Mohsin, University of Connecticut
August 12, 2017, Filed Under: 2017, austin, fun, learningWrapping Up Summer 2017 When I first arrived at UT Austin, I was overwhelmed. The university was so big. There were so many new techniques to learn. I had to integrate myself into a new group of people I had never known. I had never been away from home for an extended period of time. For someone still new to college and scientific research, it was overwhelming. After the first week, it was smoother sailing. I made new friends and went on exciting adventures in the city of Austin. Research was still a challenge throughout my summer experience, but challenges and difficulties are how people develop and grow. I was constantly problem solving and thinking of what I could do to improve my experiment. I learned a lot from my ten-week period here. Summer scholars from various programs at UT in front of the main tower. Photo by Dalton Kotinilek. I didn’t just learn new research skills, I learned new life skills. I will carry this new knowledge and continue to build upon it as I continue my college career. The research I did here was great and will help propel me forward, but the real fun came in exploring the city of Austin with great new people. This city has so much to offer. There was something interesting and exciting around every corner. Even in ten weeks there still wasn’t enough time to experience everything Austin has to offer. I think the experience was elevated more because of the new people around me. Everyone had something to bring to the table and they created a sense of belonging in this new community we joined. Overall the summer experience was a lot of work and a lot of fun. It was worth every second. Andrew Rios, University of Texas at El Paso
July 13, 2017, Filed Under: 2017, learning, researchDeliberate Practice: Becoming an Expert Constant, albeit creepy, reminder for us scientists to practice wearing our Personal Protective Equipment. Photo by Gabriel Garcia. “Practice makes perfect,” just one of many clichéd inspirational sayings anyone can find passing a Hallmark store. One of many iterations our parents continuously drill into our minds as we make our way through life. Even though the phrase may have lost meaning through its advertisement in society, the message it carries still holds true and will probably continue to do so for the many years to come, until society transcends into the highest form of intelligence (if at all possible). Everything we do in our everyday lives requires practice; the theory of evolution, the progression of life itself, is an inherent form of practice (survival of the fittest, adaptation, etc.). Our species has evolved in technological, social, political and spiritual aspects through the use of practice. Clearly, then, practice can be applied to almost anything, including our short-lived summer research in the field of cancer. Scientists have dedicated their wholes lives to a single field in science and still come up short in understanding, so it would be rather arrogant to claim that we can become experts in the field of cancer by the coming month through “practice”. What I will suggest is that we can become experts of ourselves through practice; experts in being on time, in taking notes of your everyday methods and findings, even experts in managing our finances. Do not continue this journey with the mindset of just learning about cancer or proper cell culture techniques, learn about each of your own shortcomings and how to fix them through practice. This work ethic will diffuse into your lab work and everyday life, and make things easier to deal with. Of course, this is not to diminish the importance of improving lab techniques. We should all strive to continuously improve ourselves and our work ethics, as both ultimately affect the progress of our society and societal standards. -Gabriel Garcia, The University of Texas at El Paso
