What was the most memorable “Eureka!” moment you had during your summer research?
- I realized I did all the work myself. I could not believe I was cable of such a thing.
- Being able to perform whole experiments by myself.
- My most memorable moment was seeing the results of my first scratch assay. I had waited a long time for my reagents to come in, so it was great to finally get to do the experiment and see that it actually worked on the first try! (Rylie Davis)
- Seeing the difference another 24hr incubation could make.
- Getting enough background information on what the lab as a whole was working on that I could understand how my project slotted into that and strengthened the results of other ongoing work.
- For much of the summer, I have been working in the Proteomics Core learning how to operate the timsTOF mass spectrometer. I was able to obtain nearly 7,000 protein identifications from my samples! (Sydnye Shuttleworth)
- For me it would be we that finally figured out why our cells were dying and I was able to continue my project. And also the time when we figured out why I had bad RNA quality after total RNA extraction.
- When I was measuring wound closure imaging and found that a double knockdown decreased cell migration!
- When I finally figured out the differences in the treatments I was giving the mice.
- It is hard to pick one moment, as I have been fortunate to work with such an awesome lab group that made me look forward to coming in every day!
- I was analyzing data from the flow cytometer within a program called FloJo. I did not understand gating at all – this was the first year I had ever used it. My mentor explained it to me multiple times but I just was not understanding this one specific gating technique. I decided to just re-analyze the data and after about 3 times of doing this, it FINALLY clicked. It seems small, but it was early on in the summer and I was so happy to finally understand it.
- I remember it being really exciting when we finally got proof that the protein we spent weeks prepping and purifying was active!
- I made viruses this summer and seeing the cells that are making them glow green under the microscope was exciting! (Hannah Wu)
- Seeing the patience and perseverance researchers have when things don’t go as planned!
- When I lysed cells and did my first BCA without assistance, and the feeling of imaging of a western that I take full responsibility for felt exciting and scary.
- learning the benefits organoids could have on cancer research.
- Getting experience with confocal microscopy.
- My coolest moment was when my analysis that took 6 weeks ended up proving our hypothesis.
- I loved that I got a different experience than I have previously gotten with REUs.
- Being able to find samples that I could perform DNA extractions on was my most memorable experience here.
- This experience solidified my decision to pursue a PhD in biomedical sciences after graduating college and highly increased my probability of attending UAMS for graduate school.
- Understanding the standard procedures to complete a CCK-8 assay by myself.
- When my cell viability assay WORKED.
- When I received my results and I was able to understand a lot of them I felt that I had really put in a lot of effort to the lab!
- It was when I started to figure out how to think like a scientist!
- I spent a considerable amount of time at the beginning doing research to try and fill in the gaps in a protocol that was given to me. I completed the protocol and got back my data and found that my changes actually worked, and that was a really cool moment. Since then I have spent the remainder of the summer further optimizing this protocol, but the first time through and seeing that it has the potential to be really good was the best eureka moment!
- Getting results from a western blot using an antibody that was tough to get to appear.
- When I was sitting with my PI as he was explaining how anion-exchange chromatography works, and it all suddenly clicked in my mind and started to make sense.
- I was happy when I found the right anti-cancer agent for my project. (Harrison Cool)
- Making my own observations of self-growth and learning.
- Participating in the lab’s strength test.