Goal 1: Learn Neuroanatomy
I will achieve this goal by studying neuroanatomy and applying this knowledge to analyze microscope slides under the microscope. Seeing real images of the brain will help me to get comfortable with recognizing parts of the brain as well as abnormalities.
Goal 2: Learn to Write Scientifically and Professionally
I will achieve this goal by writing papers for my supervisors about the topics I am learning and working on. Various mediums can be used to present scientific writing such as essays but also presentations. Reading other scientific articles will also help me to understand scientific writing and allow me to apply these skills to my own works
Goal 3: Image Analysis
I will achieve this goal by learning to analyze different images of the brain on a computer or via slides under a microscope. Practicing this through guided analysis will help me to be comfortable doing it on my own. The most important step to achieving this is learning what parts of the brain look like normally and abnormally, which I will do through my first goal, and apply it to this one.
My current long-term goals are to go to graduate school to get my masters degree in neuroscience. I want to go to graduate school because I want to obtain a deeper level of knowledge than what I will get through my undergraduate education. I chose this goal because I am very passionate about neuroscience, and I have excelled in my school work so far. I would like to continue to do research on neurological disorders to help find treatments for them.
I am very sure of this career path, though I am still open to changes if one presents itself. I know I am sure of this because neuroscience fascinates me and I genuinely enjoy learning about the brain and the functions it's involved in. My internship site has helped secure this goal because I see my supervisors doing the work that I dream to do, and I love learning about it and want to get involved.
I will continue to explore this path by continuing my research in the field and looking into possible graduate schools. I also will get more involved in other labs or experiences eventually, and these will either push me in another direction or continue to support the path I am currently on.
In 5-10 years, I will have finished graduate school and obtained my master's degree. By this time, I will have had a lot of experience doing neuroscience research, and hopefully I will have a professional job in this career field. I will most likely move out of Indiana and go up north for graduate school and any job I get after my schooling. I am currently still not sure if I am going to get a Ph.D., so by this time I will have decided if that is a path I want to pursue.
This semester I will need to work on my scientific writing skills to further reach my goals. Scientific writing is very important in research, so knowing exactly what needs to be said and the best way to say it is necessary to learn. I am going to practice this skill by working with my mentors who will help me through the process.
My goals from the LHSI application have not changed much, if any. I am still interested in studying neurological disorders, going to graduate school, and learning how to be successful in my field. I have strengthened these goals by accomplishing parts of them such as understanding what research entails, learning from my peers and mentors, and learning from my mistakes.
One big career goal I have would be to be an author on a published article. In order to do that I need to...
read many journals and take notes on how other authors have written their articles this month
practice scientific writing and ask my mentors for guidance this semester
continue practicing on my own and ask for their edits this year
Working at my internship site has solidified my desire to do neuroscience research. I am also still interested in disorders of the brain, though I am not certain if I want to stick with degenerative diseases or do something else. I am confident in my ability to make career related decisions, because even though I am open to change, I have been pretty certain of what I want to do for some time now. I am good about researching opportunities, schools, jobs, etc., so I am confident in my abilities to pick the next step for myself.
After LSHI, I am continuing to work at my internship site throughout the rest of my undergraduate experience. I hope to get much better and the skills I've worked on this year, such as scientific writing and image analysis. A long term goal at this site is to get this case study published. I am not sure when this will happen, as I still have much to learn, but I am excited to work toward this goal.