Duke University | Undergraduate Research Support Office

Arun Sharma, 2009 Research Fellow

 

Don't be afraid to learn something
Posted by Arun Sharma on 2009-08-09

So, I’ve been sitting at home for about a week now, just relaxing a bit before starting up the fall semester in another 2 weeks. I’ve had some time to think back on the Howard Hughes program and reminisce. I think the biggest realization I’ve come to is this:

“Wow. I cannot believe I just did all that in 8 weeks.”

Looking back, the experience seemed almost surreal. When I entered the Blobe lab in early June, I was pretty much in the dark about my summer project. The only things I really knew were that I was working in a cancer biology lab in the LSRC, and that my mentor worked with endothelial cells and how they affected blood vessel development. That, and some of the background from a handful of papers I had read in May, was really all I knew coming in on June 7.

Eight weeks later, I realize that I had gone on a journey. Along the way, I have learned just so much about my project, working in a lab, and research in general:

I’ve learned that working in a research lab is a much more social environment than people give it credit for.

I’ve learned the importance of befriending your fellow researchers, because they’re awesome people who are very willing to help you succeed, either by answering your questions or teaching you something new.

I’ve learned that it’s important to ask a question whenever it pops up in your mind, no matter how stupid it might sound in your head. It’s better to be confused and clear something up now instead of being confused after conducting an experiment and wondering if it worked.

I’ve learned that although lab presentations can be intimidating at first, they are great ways to get feedback from other researchers on how to improve your work, or even how to start a new project stemming from an existing one.

I’ve learned (mostly from my mentor, Nam) that it’s important to stay loose in the lab, crack a few jokes now and then, just to keep your work stress-free.

I’ve learned that it’s important to stay dedicated and passionate about your research, but not to let your failures and mistakes discourage you from your goals.

I’ve learned not to be discouraged by mistakes, because someone else in the lab has also undoubtedly made the same mistake more than once.

I’ve learned some powerful techniques universal to biology labs (immunofluorescence, Western blotting, gel electrophoresis) that previously, I had only read about.

I’ve learned, through trial and error, how to successfully utilize these techniques for protein analysis within cells.

I’ve learned that verifying your results by repeating trials, no matter how tedious it may sound, is absolutely imperative.

I’ve learned that utilizing sterile technique when cultivating cells is a must. When in doubt, spray that bottle with ethanol. You don’t want contamination, do you?

I’ve learned that bacterial contamination is a very, very bad thing when cultivating cells.

I’ve learned that it’s important to keep extra flasks of cells, not if, but WHEN you get contamination, because it’s gonna happen.

I’ve learned, well, confirmed actually, that I love looking through a microscope because there’s a beautiful, alien world on that microscope slide looking back at you.

I’ve learned that your eyes will be very mad at you if you look through a microscope for 4 hours straight, no matter how beautiful that alien world on the microscope slide is.

I’ve learned the importance of poster sessions because they expose possibly your most important audience, people who know NOTHING about your field of work, to what you’re doing. It’s important to know how your work will affect the general public, so it’s good to think of the “big picture” now and then.

I’ve learned that I really enjoy working in a cancer research lab, because I can see the impact that my work has on the general public.

I’ve learned that cell-signaling and signal transduction pathways are critical in cancer development, and our understanding of how various signaling pathways interact is crucial if we ever hope to develop a cure for cancer.

I’ve learned that a lot of free time in the lab is spent reading papers relevant to what you are working on, and that this is extremely important because you want your background knowledge to be as extensive as possible.

I’ve learned, through the seminars, that everyone’s story as to how they’ve ended up in research is different, and that a lot of people didn’t take the direct UNDERGRAD -> GRAD SCHOOL -> POST DOC research path.

I’ve learned how to be independent in research, and that the best way to learn is by doing things on your own and messing up a few times. By extension, I’ve learned that you WILL mess up in the lab, no matter how hard you try not to.

I’ve learned to exercise my independence in research by trying something different and tinkering with experimental parameters (concentrations, volumes, etc.) to find that perfect outcome.

I’ve learned that I love working in this lab, and that I will CONTINUE to exercise my independence next semester in the Blobe lab, through an independent study!

I’ve learned that the various Howard Hughes programs are PERFECT for you if you have any interest in research whatsoever.

I’ve learned that research is an incredibly fulfilling career path, so long as you are passionate about what you’re researching.

___________
Thank you to everyone who made this summer possible.
Thank you to Dean Nijhout, Suzanne, and Alex for helping keep us all together this summer and putting this show on the road.
Thanks to everyone in the Blobe lab: My mentor, Nam Lee…my PI, Dr. Blobe….everyone else in the lab (Mythreye, Sun, Cathy, Tam, Jason, Cheryl, Jenny, everybody!)

 See more blogs by the 2009 Fellows:
http://howardhughes.trinity.duke.edu/blogs/program/research-fellows