Lab Notebook

I've been working on my final MARC presentation, containing data and analysis, explanations, and background information surrounding my project. I also presented this slideshow to my MARC peers to get feedback, which I have since incorporated into my slides. Below are a few snapshots of my work that I will ultimately present at the MARC symposium. 

I have visited the lab, connected with Doyle, and have a plan to stay up to date on his research. In our last meeting, he walked me through the protocol for his mice work and we discussed issues with staining of collected brain slices. I am beginning to work on my final paper, and finalizing my collected data to present it later this year.

Working with Doyle, I: 

1. 1. Determined that EIF4B was required for local translation and LTP in IPSC-derived human neurons through the use of shRNAs, which were delivered into neurons using lentivirus.

   2. Measured and quantified phosphorylated EIF4B at S504 and S422 colocalization with synapses upon cLTP stimulation using ICC staining and confocal imaging.

   3. Measured and tested S504 EIF4B antibody for later use in mice.

I have been working with Doyle Lokitiyakul as a part of the Tracy Lab for the past month and a half and am nearing the end of my two-month internship period at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. I have been aiding Doyle in his research and learning a wide variety of techniques, such as how to work with cell cultures, including splitting and plating HEK cells, Western Blotting - including setup, transferring, washing protein membrane, and imaging in a darkroom -, ICC Stainings of iPSCs, Confocal Imaging, and more. This has been an incredible experience and I am doing my best to absorb everything I am learning. I hope to be able to able to continue to aid Doyle over the school year, either remotely or in the lab, and plan to assist him with analysis and quantification of collected data. 

Currently, I am continuing to expand my knowledge on the topic of memory formation, although I don't have a super specific subtopic in mind. I am looking forward to beginning to work in the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in the Tracy Lab with Doyle Lokitiyakul.