The overall goal of my project is to understand how the molecular chaperone Lhs1 facilitates the degradation of the Epithelial Sodium Channel (ENaC), an ion channel on the cell membrane that plays an important role in sodium reabsorption in the kidney and lungs. Specifically, I am studying how mutations in different domains of Lhs1 affect…
So Much to Do, So Little Time
Good morning (or afternoon, or evening)! Today, I want to talk about what I consider to be the biggest challenge of studying abroad: figuring out how you want to spend your time abroad. Coming into my program, I heard a million different pieces of advice on how to spend my semester. “Travel as much as…
Expectations and Realities Abroad
Reflecting on my several weeks in Grenoble, I have noticed a significant shift in my expectations surrounding my study abroad experience. It has long been a dream of mine to study abroad, and with this has come a long series of hopes, expectations, and assumptions about what my experience would be like. Since arriving in…
Marseille Living
Since I’ve been in France for over a month, I’ve had plenty of time to settle in. Honestly, everything has gone smoothly thus far, and I haven’t had any major issues. One thing I noticed immediately was that my host institution KEDGE is very different from what I’m used to at Pitt. KEDGE is one…
Taking inventory: a brief interlude
A few key takeaways from my time in Ireland so far: You know how when babies learn to swim, they’re often just tossed right in and they eventually get the hang of it? That’s a fairly accurate description of my early adjustment period in Dublin – in a good way! Keeping with the aquatic theme,…
Pre Departure Expectations vs Mid Semester Reality
I honestly did not have a ton of expectations coming into my study abroad program. I really wasn’t sure how anything would be, and just wanted to take everything as it came and enjoy it to the fullest extent. That being said, I did have general expectations, for example, I expected that the courses I…
Student Living In Sydney, Australia
For our CEA CAPA program here, our faculty is amazing in finding and securing housing for us prior to when we arrive, which makes the whole process for us a lot easier. We are in student housing apartments right by Darling Harbour in Sydney, which is a fantastic place to be! We are only a…
Setting Goals
Throughout this program I have a few goals for myself I hope to accomplish academically, professionally, and personally. First and foremost, I really want to focus on connecting the material that I learn in my classes to the new experiences I will be having. Drawing these connections will not only make the content that I…
Meet Kristin Lucht!
Hi everyone! My name is Kristin Lucht and I’m currently a junior majoring in Marketing and Global Management with a certificate in Leadership and Ethics. I’m from Princeton, New Jersey and on campus I’m a part of the Pathfinders organization, a student manager for Campus Recreation, an Intramural Basketball Supervisor, and a part of the…
Great Expectations
Hello again! After officially completing two months at my study abroad program in Copenhagen, I have come to meet many of the academic, professional, and personal expectations I had created for myself prior to departing for my program. It has been a wonderful experience to see the visions I had for my study abroad experience…