This
month was probably our busiest yet all year. In addition to the NBME shelf exam
and our second exam for cell control, I participated in the Tough Mudder
obstacle course in Florida and put in a lot of hours in Dr. Mostany’s lab
working on image analysis.
Studying
for the exam was intense and I felt like trying to get through an entire year’s
worth of material was challenging. In the end, I think I was well prepared
though and the exam was not as tough as most of us expected.
After
finishing our 2nd cell control exam, we only have one exam left for
the rest of the year. It’s hard to believe we’re almost done with these classes
but it’s been a great experience all along.
My
work in the lab has been busy the last week because I was squeezing in a
month’s worth of work into about 10 days (studying for the shelf consumed most of my time the first few weeks of the month). Image analysis certainly is not the
most enjoyable or entertaining work, but I feel much more skilled when it comes
the process now. Additionally, it gives me a greater appreciation and respect
for all the work that goes into data analysis portion of research and
publishing journal articles.
Despite being busy with image analysis, fortunately, I was able to
experience some more exciting stuff in the lab also. After observing a mouse
perfusion procedure, I was able to perform one myself and assist with another.
After the mouse brains were fixed in paraformaldehyde for a couple days, I was
also given the chance to help with slicing the brains to be used for analysis.
As I learned, the perfusion procedure is a bit gruesome, and I can certainly
understand why most of the other lab members don’t enjoy doing it. All in all,
it was awesome taking part in some more hands on work in the lab and surely
will be useful experience for the future, especially if I continue working in
Dr. Mostany’s lab beyond the end of the school year.
Our Tough Mudder team, muddy but in high spirits mid-race.
Volunteer Hours:
Ochsner - 7 hours
