Year/Class standing: Senior
Recent achievements: 2008 CCS Summer research fellowship, 2008 Barry Goldwater Scholarship
Favorite class at UCSB: Without a doubt, Kathy Foltz’s Developmental Biology class
How did you first get involved as an undergraduate in research, and why? What lab, projects, etc. are you currently involved in?
I think my desire to conduct research was initiated by organic chemistry lab assignments… the “unknowns,” as we called them; weeklong projects where we identified unknown organic compounds. I enjoyed the challenges and the creative process of these projects, leading me to seriously consider the laboratory as a career option.
My first research experience was at UCLA's Medical School in the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging. I was assigned to computer and biological specialists working on developing a protocol for the de-identification of Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI). My efforts were focused on identifying anatomical targets which could be used as landmarks for automated computer de-identification. I later started working at the Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory through UCLA's psychology department. Continuing work with MRI images, I used computer software to assess the relationship between schizophrenia and brain morphology. Although I enjoyed my research, I wanted more experience in molecular biology and yearned for more meaningful participation in research than UCLA's academic schedule allowed. This led me to UCSB's College of Creative Studies, where the departments’ flexibility and focus on undergraduate research has been seminal to my education and future plans.
The last 18 months I have been conducting full-time research in Dr. Stuart Feinstein’s lab studying Alzheimer’s disease. In Dr. Feinstein's Laboratory we use a variety of methods including biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology to study the developmental and pathological function of the microtubule associated protein, tau. Tau is a neuronally expressed protein that has been pathologically linked to many neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. Working alongside graduate student, Erkan Kiris, my main project assesses the effects of single and combinatorial phosphorylation upon tau function and aggregation.
How has your undergraduate research experience helped to shape your plans for the future? (Or, put differently, what are your plans for the future and how has/will your research experience contribute to these?)
I think one of the major concerns for undergraduate students preparing for a career in the sciences, is whether it is the right path for them. As undergraduates, we spend a lot of time preparing for graduate studies and it is scary to think that after a year or two in the lab we may have second thoughts. So, I think most importantly, my research experience has provided the confidence or self-assurance that I won’t have any second thoughts; research is my life, I couldn’t think of doing anything else. Given this, my current plans are to attend graduate school in fall of 2009.
What advice can you offer to students desiring any sort of undergraduate research experience?
I think the best advice I can give, would be to attend office hours with your professors and utilize this time to show them that your interests are beyond the classroom level. In addition, TA’s are great resources; attend their office hours and discuss your research interests. Another way to gain research experience is through summer internship programs. There are summer internships at UCSB and universities throughout the country and can provide a great starting point for undergraduate research.
