Of the Many Reasons to Love Research

I am constantly asked why I do research and what it is I like about it. For me, it’s more than just gaining experience or improving my resume, it’s every reason— whether good or bad, frustrating or exciting, mundane or extraordinary. There are plenty of reasons to love and to do research, here are a few that come to mind:

  1. Research makes a difference. There is nothing cooler than knowing that you are contributing to the discovery or development of something that can make a difference in people’s lives or a change in the world! Every contribution matters!
  2. Research introduces you to great people! Not only does working in research give you the opportunity to work alongside incredible faculty mentors, research also provides the opportunity to work with a mentor and lab group that may serve as guides, counselors, and as friends outside of lab! Shout out to the Mitragotri Group!
  3. Research is applicable. One really cool thing about research is that it transcends beyond what is taught in the classroom and enables you to apply all that you know or have been taught and apply that knowledge into what you are learning and doing in lab.
  4. Research can help you! As mentioned above, research can enhance both your professional and academic credentials for future graduate/professional school or for career advancement. It can also help support applications for internships, scholarships, and other awards!
  5. Research opens doors. Participating in research can afford the opportunity to go present your work at professional conferences, to meet other researchers like yourself, and to participate in great events. Research can also aid in networking and in making contacts early into your career! (Check out Lunch with Faculty every quarter!)
  6. Research changes the pace. Unlike with practice set exercises or protocol lab experiments with predetermined solutions and expected results, research has you come up with the experiments but also has you come up with the answer. Research makes you think differently by engaging you in the creation of new knowledge.
  7. Research is challenging. Sometimes, experiments don’t go as well as planned or give you unexpected results. And that’s okay! In these cases, you’re given the opportunity to question you process, make changes, and to think beyond. Research stretches your mind, and challenges and tests you to think of new ideas, new reasons, and new possibilities.
  8. Research is the future. It’s exciting to be a part of an adventure that will change the face of the future. Research is constantly pushing the frontiers of knowledge, and it’s crazy to think that the theory, the process, or the discovery you make today may determine how the world is structured tomorrow.
  9. Research doesn’t stop. Every study and every project in the world of research not only provides insights, answers, and details, it poses new questions. And even in the case where answers may be inconclusive, it still puts into consideration what it would take to solidify those answers.
  10. Research changes you. Somewhere along the way, research helps build traits and characteristics like independent thinking, resilience, communication, and creativity. Research can help mold you into the person you’d like to be while also changing all that you do, value, and hope to achieve!

Whether you’re in research or interested in research, what excites you? Why do you do research? And why do you love it?

MARC  Posted by 10 Aug 2015 / 0 comments

Spirited Away (Microbiology edition)

My first experience with undergraduate research has been like one of my favorite movies, Spirited Away. Like the main character Chihiro, I’ve entered into a dreamlike world with fantastic things I’ve never seen before. My parents did not transform into pigs and abandon me like Chihiro’s so I’m not nearly as scared as she was, but I, like Chihiro, initially felt nervous and a little lost.

I entered the spirit world (lab) not knowing a lot about spirits (microbiology, bacterial genetics, lab techniques) and I needed a mentor. Luckily, a post-doc, Zach Ruhe, agreed to guide me. I like to think of Zach as Kamaji, the bath-house boiler man/spider. He has six arms that are always busy in his work, yet he still has given me the chance to work and learn in the lab. I’ve already learned so much from my mentor–how to present ideas, how to express myself in technical writing, how to handle lab skillz with finesse, how to work harder than you think you should, how to play Black & Yellow on Google talk–and I am greatly appreciative.

I also have other helpers in the lab. August, a UCSB 2015 graduate, is a noble role model like Haku. He checks in on me, gives me good advice, and kindly offers zucchini bread snacks to me. Interestingly, Haku and August are both spirits controlled by tyrannical forces: Haku’s being Yubaba, August’s being the medical school application process. My other helper is Jing, a lab technician. I liken Jing to Lin, a sister-like co-worker who comes in from time to time to help out Chihiro and guide her in her journey.

This journey has just begun, but I am beginning to gain more confidence working in the spirit world. The coming-of-age theme of Spirited Away definitely resonates with me through this experience as I’m gaining more responsibility and starting to become a “real” scientist. I’m excited to continue working on our brand new project about antibiotic resistance and I am eager to report back when we’ve gotten more data. Thanks for reading.

-B

Here’s a picture of me slaving away at the lab:

Bianca in the lab

MARC  Posted by 29 Jul 2015 / 0 comments

A Whole New World

I remember walking into lab for the first time ever. It was as though I was in an adult version of any lab I had ever been part of. At first, it was the little things that impressed and intimidated me (This list can get long). Everyone was wearing their fancy dark blue coats whereas I was only used to the large white one that I bought at the UCen as a freshman. The goggles also were not all the same, it was interesting to see that everyone had their choice to be comfortable, that just threw me off! Not only this, but I couldn’t help but stand in awe at the fact that everyone had their own hood. I could only think about the fact that I had shared a hood with at least four people every quarter for as long as I could possibly remember. And don’t get me started on their instruments! I mean maybe they weren’t state of the art, but it felt as though someone had handed me a fork when i had spent my life eating with my fingers. One last small glory was the fact that I had my very own desk; this was a place that I could study, work, and do all that great desk stuff.

20150522_120031-300x225On a side note, the reason I mention that I titled this post as a whole new world is mostly because I feel as though I have had an identity change the moment I walked into lab. My name is Alexandra-I don’t really have nicknames. HOWEVER, everyone in the lab calls me Alexa, and honestly for a long time the only reason I responded was because I was the only female for a long time and I knew they couldn’t be talking to anyone else. (I felt like Emily in the movie The Devil Wears Prada hopefully some of you get that reference!)

However, working in a lab doesn’t always feel like the sunshine and roses that I had primarily experienced. I realized that with all the benefits, there were great responsibilities demanded of me. There are a few things I feel I need to share at this point.

First of all, mistakes will be made.

Being a new scientist in the field, you must become aware of the fact that you cannot always be perfect. Having passed my organic Chemistry classes with flying colors did not prepare me for the real world of synthesis. Your skills, methods, level of creativity to solve problems has to go beyond what you’re learning in the classroom. And also, I have learned that making mistakes are only ever beneficial if you choose to learn from them. With that said, the same mistake shouldn’t really be done twice. Maybe this is only applicable to my lab experience, but I won’t hesitate to share it!

20150709_211047My second hood since my first was given to a new graduate student!

Secondly, time is always of the essence.

It just seems as though I can never find enough time in the day. The other day I planned to take the day to study and finish assignments. I had only one column to run and I had begun at 9:30 am. Needless to say that at 5pm when all was said and done, I realized that I can’t always assume that my chemistry won’t take longer. I haven’t figured out how to solve this problem exactly but I have finally talked to my mentor and taking some days off from chemistry completely seems to be the only way. *tearing up inside*

Thirdly, frustrations are normal.

I love chemistry. I really and truly do. But, sometimes it just so happens that everything is falling apart and your compound decomposed overnight or you ran out of TLC’s and capillaries and you have to bother making those too and there is just so much you have to do before getting to the Chemistry you actually enjoy. Just remember, it’s all part of the process. Sometimes my frustrations don’t even have to do with Chemistry but rather I’ve had a bad day and I get seem to drop the thought. I literally just need ten minutes to step back and look at the big picture-I may be making the most minute and insignificantly small change to science, but I am making a change nonetheless. This is what it’s about and this should be enough to pick up and keep going!

Lastly, some things are sunshine and roses!

Honestly, the benefits of working in my research lab far outweigh the bad. Relationships with fellow scientists who know your name and know your work and are willing to help you learn is a great benefit. My mentor, who I feel can be really hard on me let’s me know that he is strict and demands perfection because he cares about my progression as a scientist and I believe it! Being able to be in a lab and watch all these various techniques that lead to the same outcome allows be to build my own style as though I were an amateur writer amongst great authors. My PI is also a great inspiration. I enjoy the lab because I see great work ethic. No one is coasting through and everyone is very real about their case. The honesty is helpful because it helps everyone progress with their work in a better way and I appreciate how no one hesitates to ask a question because everyone is still learning! This above all I enjoy. I love that I can ask naive questions and no one is rolling their eyes at me or laughing. Ironically, due to the number of cancerous chemicals, I find it one of the safest environments to learn. And honestly, if you aren’t in a lab to learn, you may be missing the point.

I suppose I will conclude by mentioning that I am a minority and I don’t see many Hispanic women in the workplace. However, to those women out there that are hoping to pursue a career in research that feel and are underrepresented in STEM, I would have to tell them that nothing is impossible and you just have to work hard and never lose confidence. Because you will fail, and you will be criticized, and you will do silly things, but you must always remember it’s about the learning and soon all the things you fear won’t be so scary. It’s not impossible, no one is an exception, and don’t compare yourself to others if you are already working your hardest.

Anyway, I feel it only natural to post some images of my little world in Chemistry. Enjoy!

20150414_112727My First Hood.

MARC  Posted by 22 Jul 2015 / 0 comments

If at first you don’t succeed…

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again. That was the story of my first 4 months working in an organic synthesis lab. I reached a step in the synthesis plan of my project that did not work at all. It should have easily worked though, being an acylation of a secondary alcohol. I attempted the reaction around 9 times, each time thinking I had fixed the previous problem, however it still did not yield the product. I dreaded presenting my failures for the Chem 6BH lab course, but I did not expect the positive and constructive feedback from peers and professor. Continuing research after the end of Spring quarter 2015, my mentor and PI decided that the molecule I was working on would not benefit the overall projects of the group. So I started synthesizing a different scaffold of molecules and collaborating more closely with my mentor. Now with over 5 months of training in organic synthesis I am beginning to produce promising results and feel important in the lab. So If at first you don’t succeed…wait until you’re comfortable and have the skills necessary to feel like an asset. At the undergraduate level I don’t think positive results are the point of research; the point is gaining experience in a lab and asking for help when you find yourself try try trying again.

MARC  Posted by 20 Jul 2015 / 0 comments