This semester in the lab was different from previous ones in that I was responsible for training a new undergraduate student on top of completing my other lab work. One of the hardest things to balance at least for me in the lab is time. With classes and experiments that run for hours it can…
Author: alexandrakhughson
My Experience Joining a Lab at Pitt
One of the main things that drew me to Pitt was the multitude of different research opportunities available all over campus. I tried a few different types of research before landing on the VanDemark Lab and ultimately deciding that I was interested in wet lab and biology research. From my experience in my biology courses,…
CURF Post One- The VanDemark Lab
Hello everyone! My name is Alexandra Hughson. I am currently an undergraduate Biological Sciences major, a Chemistry minor, and am pursuing a BPhil degree. Additionally, I am also pursuing my MPH in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology in the School of Public Health. This fall I am pursuing research through the Chancellor’s Undergraduate…
Looking back on my summer with the HSRF- Hughson
From the Health Sciences Research Fellowship, I grew both in my ability to communicate my research effectively and my ability to conduct research independently. From the communication standpoint, the fellowship activities and literature taught me the steps that I need to take in order to explain research to a specific audience. As I move forward…
Communicating My Research- Alexandra Hughson
When presenting information to a general audience it is most important to focus on the “so what” or takeaway from the research as opposed to the finer details. As researchers who are very passionate about our work and fields it is easy to get wrapped up in small intricacies that although maybe interesting, do not…
Coming together through the HSRF
One of the unique things about the HSRF is that although it is specialized around the health sciences, there is still so much diversity under that umbrella. Although I enjoy my lab work in structural biology, there is still so much else out there that I know I could be interested in. From the other…
Health Sciences Fellowship- Introduction
Hello everyone! My name is Alexandra Hughson. I am currently an undergraduate Biological Sciences major and a Chemistry minor. This summer I am pursuing research through the Health Sciences Fellowship in the VanDemark lab in the Biology Department here at Pitt. This fall I will be a fourth year student and will begin pursuing my…