Thinking back on my experiences with CURF, it is undeniable that I have significantly improved my skills as a researcher. Throughout my time in the Brodsky lab, my research has pushed me to learn several new protocols and techniques. Among these, I was given the opportunity to learn various new computational, molecular, and biochemical lab…
Author: erinmcchesney
Reflecting on my Experiences in the Brodsky Lab
From the very beginning, my experience with the Brodsky lab has been a uniquely personal one. During the second semester of my freshman year, Dr. Brodsky presented a general overview of his research to my foundations of Biology II class as a guest speaker. While explaining his research involving diseases arising from abnormal protein degradation,…
CURF: Investigating Disease-Causing Mutations in the Renal Outer Medullary Potassium Channel Protein
This semester, I will be given the incredible opportunity to continue studying various identified human disease-causing mutations of the renal outer medullary potassium (ROMK) channel protein located in the epithelial cells of the kidney. I will be conducting my research alongside my mentor, Katie Nguyen, in Dr. Jeffrey Brodsky’s lab within the Biological Sciences department…
Growing as a Researcher: Reflecting on my Experience with CURF
Reflecting on my experiences with CURF over the past semester, it is evident that I have grown immensely as a researcher. Among many other things, I have learned the importance of patience, flexibility, and persistence while approaching the numerous challenges that often accompany scientific research. In terms of my particular research project, I was given…
The Process is the Prize: Becoming a Researcher During a Global Pandemic
From the start, my initial connection to the Brodsky lab was a uniquely personal one. During my first year at Pitt, Dr. Brodsky presented the general concept of his research to my foundations of Biology II class as a guest speaker. While explaining his research involving diseases arising from abnormal protein degradation, he specifically mentioned…
An Introduction: Investigating Disease-Causing Mutations in ROMK
Hi everyone! My name is Erin McChesney and I’m a current junior pursing a major in Biological sciences with a double minor in Chemistry and Administration of Justice. This fall semester, I will be given the opportunity to study various human disease-causing mutations of the renal outer medullary potassium (ROMK) channel protein, which is located…