Before I participated in undergraduate research, it was difficult for me to fathom it being anything more than just conducting experiments, analyzing data, and gaining technical skills. Yes, these things are important, but you can get so much more out of being an undergraduate researcher. I have learned how to form professional relationships and work in a research team, but most importantly I have gained confidence in myself.
My research experience at UNH began the summer after my sophomore year with a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), funded by the generous donors of the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research. I am majoring in biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, and my SURF research, mentored by Dr. Sarah Walker, was on drug repurposing for triple negative breast cancer. Through SURF, I was immersed in a new community of people who love science as much as I do and are interested in working together to make an impact on others. Throughout the summer, I met many faculty members and graduate students I didn’t previously know. I found that having conversations about my passions and goals was a significant first step in forming professional relationships. It’s important to ask questions and show interest in other people's research and experiences. One unique thing about the scientific community is that everyone wants to learn about what their peers are working on and are more than willing to have conversations with aspiring scientists.
Our lab group held weekly meetings to talk about what each individual was working on and to learn about new tools. For me, these meetings were the first time I was able to share and listen to ideas from other biochemists. Being able to communicate with others is essential in any type of research—not only to share findings, but to get assistance when something doesn’t go as planned. Throughout my SURF project and research the subsequent semester, I talked with graduate students, undergraduates, and my mentor to try to figure out why certain tests I was performing weren’t working. The tests were migration assays, which study metastasis, or the spread of cancer to a secondary site. With each conversation, a different possibility and potential solution was presented. Without this discourse, it would be difficult to see the whole picture and consider every component of the migration assay.
In my opinion, the most important thing I have gotten out of participating in undergraduate research is personal growth. I had to quickly learn how to rely on myself and my own knowledge to be independent in the lab. I’m now more likely to participate in conversations with professors and classmates, as well as to answer and ask questions about my project. Most importantly, I have trust in my ideas and thought process, which allows me to learn and explore in the lab. Undergraduate research has helped me to develop as a person, which in turn is making me a better researcher, and I’m excited to keep growing as I continue exploring science.
