Welcome to my e-porfolio. My name is Delayna Loveland, I am a current University of South Carolina - Lancaster student. I will be graduating in May 2025 with my Associates in Science with Leadership Distinction in the Professional and Civic Engagement Pathway.

Biology was always one of my favorite subjects and a big reason that I decided to enroll back into college after five years off. My love of the labs for Biology 101 and how much I adored my professor pushed me into asking about a position as the lab assistant and was hired starting the following semester. Working in the Microbiology lab at the University of South Carolina under Dr. Golonka as the lab assistant. This lab is a specialized to study microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi and has sterile environments and a safety hood. This is an experience I will keep close to my heart for the rest of my life. As the lab assistant I help set up labs with professor’s instructions by putting together baskets filled with stains to stain the microbes, set out any materials needed such as inoculation loops for students to use to culture, and place out media that the students will use to culture their bacteria. I also assist with culturing microbes both for students to use during lab and for stock plates to ensure we have live bacteria, mix and pour media, including Tryptic Soy Agar plates which are the most commonly used media in the lab, all while maintaining a sterile environment. I assist in problem-solving experiments when there are complications with an experiment in lab that did not have the results that were expected, organize microscope specimen slides, take inventory of the media, ingredients used to make media, and supplies; and maintain the necessary amounts of media needed in the lab.

With the experience working in the lab making media and learning how to culture really showed me how much I enjoy doing lab work and knowing that is what I am meant to do with pharmacy. Currently working in a retail pharmacy, I know I want to be involved with medicine, just not on a personal level with patients so having an introduction and love for lab work really opened up the opportunity for what I enjoy and want for the future. My future plans will be to get through Pharmacy School, graduating in 2030 and pursuing nuclear pharmacy where I plan to work in a lab creating and synthesizing medications for people or testing new medications on bacteria and cultures taken.