Kacena Lab has multiple ongoing research projects focusing on fracture healing in different disease states (Diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer's disease) and aging. In Kacena Lab, students and interns are given the opportunity to learn various techniques such as x ray imaging, microCT analysis, genotyping mouse strains, and mouse handling skills including but not limited to learning to prepare mice for surgery, label things properly for tissue collection and injecting treatments in mice as part of ongoing studies. The lab skills learnt throughout the internship are applicable to many lab settings for other research and science labs used in a classroom especially mouse handling and genotyping. These skills and techniques not only help the interns with scientific knowledge and understanding but also allows us to grow in confidence for careers in medicine and science. Interns also get to work closely with research faculty, lab managers, lab technicians, and other students. This helps interns in making informed career choices. The endless opportunities and consistent support of the research team paves the pathway for success and gives us the tools to move forward. 

My current strength as a new team member is learning how to quickly take information and apply it within just a few days of learning it. As I go through my internship in the Kacena Lab, I hope to develop more skills that will help me in the future as a medical student. These skills include performing X-rays, prepping animal surgeries, understanding different protocols and applying it, and many more applicable skills that I will be able to carry with me. I also plan to grow as a team member and student as I learn from the staff what it takes to make a succesful lab work and the characteristics of a succesful student. The minute tasks are highly crucial to the research lab as every step is taken accounted for and each data extracted in experiments are used more than once to determine the results of other experiments. Small tasks given to interns include genotyping and x ray imaging which contribute greatly to the outcome of the research as it allows proper interpretation of the results needed to consistently prove the viability of the medicine. Multiple perspectives of solutions to many challenges are constantly presented as each individual on the team is able to contribute their ideas.  Students can benefit from different perspectives as it allows a way of thinking that would be benificial for future obstacles.