Holden Ohl

ABOUT THE RESEARCHER

1. Who are you doing research with this summer and what kind of research project are you doing? 

I’m working with Dr. Janetopoulos, trying to prove how a specific protein effects a cell signaling pathway. This research should provide new information about critical upstream regulators that control polarized morphologies and may reveal novel therapeutic targets that can be used for treating cancer metastasis. 

2.​ What do you find fascinating in the research that you’re doing ? 

We could potentially provide new information that would expand our knowledge on polarized morphologies on cells and explain how things can go wrong in cells that can ultimately lead to cancer in ourselves, leading to possible new treatments. 

3. ​What skills are you learning through the USURF experience ? 

I have learned a lot of biochemistry and all the hard work that is necessary to extract and purify a protein before one can use it in experiments. Each attempt, from start to finish, takes a week and utilizes many different skill sets and a wide knowledge base.  

4.​ What are the challenges you’re encountering in your research? 

So far I have been hitting a wall in the extraction of the protein. I am definitely learning to stay patient and that there’s a reason it is called RE-search; if everything worked the first time it would only be called “search.”  

5. How is your USURF experience impacting the way you view your field ?  

Realizing that there supportive communication that I can reach out to when thing are not going as anticipated, that all the people in the lab are in fact a team who are there to work with me in my project.  

6. Tell us something interesting about yourself. 

I am originally from upstate NY where I lived in a nature reserve. I now live in Philly full time for school and for conducting research over the summer. I also make and sell terrariums as “Pretty Green Terrariums” at the Saturday farmers’ market at Clark Park, combining my passion for biology with art.