Fall Semester: Going into this internship, I already have some lab experience. I know basic fundamentals and techniques, which gives me confidence that I will be able to build upon these skills within this laboratory setting. Along with my lab skills, I think one of my biggest strengths is to ask questions when confusion and curiosity arises. Over the years, I have gotten more comfortable with asking questions and admitting when I don't understand something. This can be hard for many people, which is why I see it as one of my greatest strengths. I also feel that I have good communication and teamwork skills. Thus I am good at working with others, explaining protocols to others, and pulling my weight when it comes to team projects. Throughout my courses and work-life, I was able to develop these skills and utilize them in an effective manner. I have been able to use the knowledge I have gained to help with my coursework as well. When in other lab settings, I feel more prepared to complete the assignment and explain the results. These skills will help me to grow as a professional and team member, by allowing me to effectively work and communicate findings with others and ask clear questions about techniques and other research that is being produced. These skills will also allow me to complete productive internship work. I will be able to use and develop my lab skills, feel comfortable asking questions about required procedures, and allow me to achieve my internship goals by the end of the school year. 

Spring Semester: This year I have very much been a team player. I have been someone I feel like employees can rely on and relate to. I have been involved in projects with employees and given more tasks to do independently as the internship advanced. The work I have done has allowed me to learn more about new scientific techniques and also provide research data that can be helpful to the lab. Currently, I am working on cell culture and seeding. The next step in this process is to complete a western blot to identify the proteins present within the cell type I am working with. Western blots are helpful techniques that show the amount of protein present within a cell and can show if a disease is present within a cell. This can help compare cells and see what proteins are involved in a neurological disorder.

Fall Semester: One time that I felt successful as an intern was by harvesting mice. I was nervous going to work, thinking I would be squeamish, but I was proud of myself for rising to the occasion. I received positive feedback on my work, and I felt this step allowed me to gain hands-on experience and learn more about its importance. Not only was I able to learn how to harvest from mice, but I was also able to contribute to what was taking place in the lab. By removing the spine, we were able to create samples to run a western blot and identify specific proteins. 

Spring Semester: Another time I felt successful was when completing a western blot. A western blot is a lab technique that allows for proteins to be identified within a sample. After seeing the gel, I thought I was going to have to restart, but the results ended up showing brightly the proteins that we were hoping to find. After observing a western blot, I did a trial run with some help from a co-worker. After that, I was able to run the western blot with little to no guidance from others. I have been able to learn how to perform this technique, which will help me when having to identify proteins within a sample in the future. I have been learning how to do cell culture, and I have been getting better with the aseptic technique and keeping my cells from becoming contaminated.

Fall Semester: One thing that has been a challenge for me so far is effectively communicating results. Towards the beginning of the semester, going into lab meeting for the first time, was kind of a wake-up call. I have been able to develop a scientific understanding by looking a research papers and taking detailed notes when completing tasks. Another challenge for me was learning new lab techniques. Coming into LHSI, I felt confident in the lab skills I had, but I have expanded them. At first, it was hard to understand procedures, but by asking questions, learning from mistakes, and explaining procedures to others, I have been able to grow and expand my lab skills. There was a specific time when preparing samples when I completed steps in the wrong order. Luckily after talking with a supervisor, I was able to understand the importance and difference between centrifuging a solution and vortexing one. By using a centrifuge, you can separate the solvent from the solute. When vortexing, you are making the solution more consistent throughout. Both are useful, but I have learned when one is more beneficial than the other. I have been able to use these challenges and learn from them not only in the lab but also in my courses. By taking a chemistry and anatomy lab, I have been able to take my knowledge and grow as a student and intern. 

Spring Semester: More recently, it was a struggle when starting to learn how to complete cell culture. My cells were originally low in the percentage alive, but with more trials and practice, I was able to improve my knowledge and abilities, allowing me to increase the number of cells alive. I also really struggled with PCR. The procedure was very difficult for me to understand, however after discussing it with a supervisor, I am more clear about the procedure. When I complete this again on my own, I will be able to take my failures and learn from them to continue to get better.