RESEARCH PROJECT REFLECTION
RISEbio research
The RISEbio program is a 3-semester long research program starting from freshman year till Fall semester of sophomore year. I was assigned to do research under Dr. Zhu in his microbiology lab. Our research goal was to delete the fpcY gene found in a bacteria called Flavobacterium psychrophilum. This type of bacteria targets cold water salmonoid fish and causes necrosis in the host tissue. The fpcY gene was previously found to be connected to the production of virulence factors in the bacteria through a 2 component protein secretion system. Our hypothesis was through the deletion of the fpcY gene the wild type Flavobacterium psychrophilum protein secretion system would lose its virulence nature and not harm the host.
Through the research program, I learned how to approach, develop, and present a topic of interest, the ethics of research, and the standards of procedures. Under Dr Zhu I learned how to search and create a study topic that would be beneficial to the world. I also had to take notes on what I accomplished every time in lab in a particular manner. At the end of the RISEbio program I had to create a poster and PowerPoint slide on the research data and publish it to the public. The poster included 5 main sections, introduction, methods, results, conclusions, and future plans. For the introduction some background information on the F. psychrophilum and the research hypothesis was explained. In the method section the protocols used for researched were shown in steps. The research results were displayed in the results section. For conclusion and future plan the explanation on our findings plus future goals were explained respectively.
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In the end our research hypothesis was supported and we’ll be sending our sample to the FDA to conduct detailed data on how effective the fpcYdeletion is to the protein secretion system.​
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Through this experience I realized it takes a considerable amount of time, energy, and patience to publish scientific findings. The research that we conducted on has not been widely talked about. It was really difficult to find sources to cite for our poster. Dr. Zhu and his former colleague were among the very first people who conducted research on this protein secretion system. I learned how to find detailed information online with techniques such as precise search words, looking at related study topics, and reaching out to my professor. The reason behind why it took so long to gather data has direct ties with the ethics of research. You cannot forge numbers or data, and if an error were to occur during procedures, the entire lab would have to be redone. The attention to detail and following procedures precisely has laid a strong foundation for my future research projects. Finally, I was held to high standards on the precision of my performances. In microbiology often the amount of solution or plasmid is under 1 micro liter. Steady hands, calm nerves, and a focused mind were critical to preforming well in lab.
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With the skills gained in research. I plan on taking an added leadership position in lab during my Junior and Senior years. This will allow me to teach new students lab techniques, lab ethics, and how to conduct research. I’ve also been inputting my research skills into my own life schedules. I’m a community advisor/ residential advisor (CA) on campus. As a CA I often face difficult situations and unpleasant scenarios. With my research experience I’ve learned to keep my cool in stressful situations and think on the fly with not a lot of options. Also, to write as detailed as possible reports and not make up stories. I look forward taking on more research projects and help improving humankind as a whole.