This summer has been a series of new experiences: meeting new people, learning new lab techniques, and gaining a sense of (unexpected) autonomy in the lab. Beyond the lab work, itself, the most interesting part of my internship so far has been talking with post doctoral fellows in the lab who intend to go on to teach in a university or college setting. Because I teach an AP course, we have been able to share curriculum materials and bounce ideas off of one another. Additionally, they let me attend special seminars meant to teach researchers how to approach active learning in a university classroom. This was fascinating for me, as I’ve always thought that there has to be a better way to teach than lecturing!
In the seminar, we were asked to group ourselves in quads and assign group roles. From there, we worked through an activity on economics and, through teamwork, were able to solve the provided problems. This is a groundbreaking style of teaching for professors, and I am glad to see that some of the techniques being implemented at K-12 levels are working their way into the university setting.
My biggest challenge, on the other hand, is directly related to lab work. Protocols and procedures are critical for the successful function of my internship. One missed step or improperly mixed buffer, and three days of work could go down the drain! I find it frustrating that such a small mistake results in starting over completely. I know that repeating experiments is just the nature of science, itself, but I am really glad that this is not my job full-time! Bless the scientists we’ve got already–I don’t have the patience for some of this stuff!
As for what I saw and did, a lot of my experiences were based around some central processes: making/running gels, completing Western Blots, purifying protein, etc. Unlike many of my Kenan Fellows cohort members, I actually did not have much direct contact with my mentor. Of course, he was always available when I needed him, and I am forever grateful for this opportunity, but most of what I learned came from the AMAZING undergrads, post-bach., and post-docs in the lab. Let me tell you–these folks are committed to their work! They spend 8-10 hours a day in the lab, sometimes until midnight or later! I admire their drive to discover new things and their determination to get as many things done in a single day as possible.
Overall, I’ve had a great summer. I have learned a lot from this internship experience and I know that my new skills and knowledge will bring more clout to my classroom content. My biggest take away is my appreciation for those who supported my research efforts this summer and who were extremely patient with me as I asked a million questions! The Strahl lab rocks!