William Halle

ABOUT THE RESEARCHER

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

This summer I have been working with Dr. Kenneth Myers. My project with him is to study the effect of MAP4 on TTLL5 induced polyglutamylated microtubules in human endothelial cells. 

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

During this summer, I was given the opportunity to look at various mutants of TTLL5 enzymes (x176, x245, x1155, x1180). These mutants only have different pieces of DNA removed from each, and they are active in the cells, they can have very different effects from each other.

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

            This summer, I am learning how to culture cells, using cell-based methods such as transfections to create and run experiments, using the spinning disc confocal microscope to image the cells, and the quantification of data and using the software available to assist me.

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

            The main challenge with my research is getting back unexpected results. These results aren’t bad, but they force me to change my hypothesis about an experiment and then I have to redesign an experiment in order to make sense of the results. 

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

            Being given the opportunity to do research over the summer changed my perception of research, as I learned that the results of research are not immediate. Due to that, it takes a while and a few tries to get results from all your hard work.

6. Tell us something interesting about yourself.

            My parents purposefully picked my name so that I’d have two “l’s” in my first, middle, and last name.