Biology/Pre-Med
Biology
In the United States, 11.8 million people are currently affected by retinal diseases which impact their vision. The ability to regenerate the retina following injury is present in a limited number of vertebrates. The newt Pleurodeles waltl (P. waltl), possesses the ability of retinal regeneration by retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) reprogramming throughout its lifespan. However, it is unknown whether this process requires the activation of cellular events that occur during development. Therefore, in this project, our goal was to characterize newt eye morphogenesis, with a particular focus on RPE and retinal development to identify cellular and molecular mechanisms necessary for retina regeneration in P. waltl to apply it to species with limited regenerative abilities, such as humans.
What developmental and metabolic events during development give newts the ability to regenerate the major structures of their eye?
•Eggs incubated in Holtfreter’s solution
•Newt embryos collected at 4-12 days post-fertilization (dpf)
•qPCR analyzed for genes of interest
•Immunostaining using pHH3
Eye structure visible at 4 dpf
Distinct eye structure (lens, retina, RPE) present at 5 dpf
Gene expression across all analyzed genes peaks around 10-11 dpf
Develop a timeline of when all retina cell populations begin to develop (rods, cones, bipolar cells, and ganglion cells)
NEI R01EY034980 to KDRT
URA to CK
You analyzed complex biological processes like retinal regeneration by interpreting qPCR gene expression data and histological images. This required you to evaluate evidence, identify patterns (like when gene expression peaks), and draw meaningful conclusions about eye development in newts. You weren’t just collecting data—you were actively making sense of it and connecting it back to your hypothesis.
This project involved collaboration with multiple researchers, likely dividing tasks such as embryo collection, lab work, and data analysis. Coordinating methods and ensuring consistency across experiments shows your ability to work effectively in a team, contribute to shared goals, and communicate scientific ideas clearly with others.
You translated complex scientific findings into a clear, visually engaging poster. Explaining processes like retinal regeneration, gene expression, and morphology changes in a concise way demonstrates strong scientific communication skills—especially tailoring information so both experts and non-experts can understand your work.