Embedded Files
The purpose of the Research Spotlight is to showcase the work being done by Mount Aloysius College faculty, staff, current students, and alumni. We look forward to your suggestions and you can apply for consideration here.
April 2023
Ryan Brooks
Mount Aloysius College Alumnus
Education
Associates Degree in Medical Imaging from Mount Aloysius College (2018-2020)
Working on my Bachelors Degree in Biology with a focus in biomedical sciences and a minor in Chemistry at Lock Haven University, plan on graduating this spring semester.
Describe your research to a general audience.
I am a part of two research projects here at Lock Haven University. One project is that I am doing gene annotation of the Thor gene in Drosophila. I observe and record data with the use of databases, and work collaboratively with others from different universities investigating different genes for the Genomic Education Partnership Pathway Project, which is a nation wide project. I am currently doing this with the help of Dr. Carina Howell.
The second project I am a part of is that I am investigating the Usp5 gene in Drosophila. The goal is to determine if the Usp5 gene causes extra cell cycles in the eye disks of Drosophila. This research has helped me gain lots of experience in cell and molecular biology and genetics. I create different Drosophila strains and stocks through genetic cross, and observe and record the data gathered from the cross. I work collaboratively with others investigating different variables for the Usp5 gene as well. This was done with the help of Dr. Jennifer Bandura.
What do you enjoy about research?
What I like about doing research is that you are doing stuff and looking at things where there is no answer yet for the question you are asking. I like looking at the whole project as a giant puzzle and try to piece things together to figure out how something came to be. There is a lot of satisfaction that happens when you are able to fit a piece of a puzzle together and become one step closer to the answer that you are looking for. So, overall I enjoy doing research because you are trying to solve a puzzle that haven't been solved by anyone else yet.
What would you like to share with the MAC community?
I am continuing my education at University of Pittsburgh to obtain my master is biomedical sciences.
Thank you Ryan for sharing your research!
For more information, you can reach out to Ryan at
Page updated
Report abuse