Throughout my time in Dr. Freyberg’s lab this semester, I was able to conduct my own research that will be crucial for subsequent phases of our project. This was my first time conducting research independently in lab, and although I was excited to get started, the process seemed a bit daunting. However, I knew I prepared myself adequately over the years through honing in on my skills in Drosophila dissections to completing Luciferase assays in the past. The major difference in what I was doing this time around was that I would be dissecting Drosophila that were in their larval stages. There were few resources I could rely on for help as extracting brain tissue out of the fly larva is still a novel process. In fact, my mentor and I went into this experiment still unsure whether we could successfully find and extract intact larval brains during dissections. This opportunity allowed me to see the research process in a totally different aspect than I had before: when conducting novel research, many times you will be relying on trial and error.

I started my research this semester doing just this by trying to find the most suitable method in extracting brain tissue, as well as how to turn it into a lysed solution ready for an assay. I was in constant communication with my mentor, letting him know which process worked well and which didn’t. Having a mentor throughout this project was great help, and although this was both of our first times conducting larval research, he was able to help provide me with important background information and procedures. I had an easier time conducting Luciferase assays, as the methods were very similar to before. I enjoyed reading the assay results, as I could see tangible evidence that could refute or accept my predictions. Most of the results I read this semester were on par with what I expected based on results from early development stages in other model organisms (which is the image shown in this post!). However, when the results were different, my mentor and I would discuss what potential problems may have arose during the process to produce this difference. We then collaborated on ways in which we could improve the experiment for next time.

As my time working through the CURF (and my time as an undergraduate student) comes to an end, I am excited to move on to conducting more research during my gap year before medical school. This CURF taught me a great deal of neuroscience research, specifically the role dopamine plays during the developmental stages of Drosophila. In a few months, I will be joining the NCATS division of the NIH to conduct protein research- which is quite different than what I have been doing this semester. However, the resources and knowledge I gathered during this semester will definitely serve as useful information and make the process of handling new equipment easier!