Kent Pham

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. Matthew Farber. The project I’m working on revolves around the creation of a new media to detect brewing contaminants. Through my work this summer, we hope to be able to release a technique for breweries to check their yeast stocks for contamination.

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

I find my research exciting due to its applicable nature. The data that I present can be immediately used to address contamination issues in the brewing industry. I find the idea that I am making a tangible change to someone else’s life satisfying.

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

During my USURF experience, I first learned wet bench techniques required to work in a lab. More importantly, I learned how to do scientific writing, a skill that I find difficult to master. I’m glad I can begin learning now as I will need this skill later in life if I continue to work in the field of academia.

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

The primary challenge I face in my research is connecting it all together. While I do have data from multiple experiments that confirm my original hypothesis, I have trouble bringing it all together. I am working on explaining to both my paper and myself how my research fits together.

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

My USURF experience has allowed me to peer into the everyday life of a researcher. I used to think that researching was a job that could be completed in the laboratory in a 9 to 5 workday. Being here over the summer has opened my eyes to the reality where I must always be working whether that is writing my paper in the morning before I come in or reading articles related to my research after work has finished. Regardless of the long hours, I find myself more attracted to the idea of researching more than ever.

6. Tell us something interesting about yourself.

I’ve begun to brew and ferment my own kombucha tea in my free time using the experience I’ve learned in lab. I find it fun to take what I’ve learned in my area of work and apply it to real life.