My Brackenridge: A Summer of Growth

When I first came into the Brackenridge, I must admit I had some misconceptions about research. As someone surrounded by STEM research my whole life, with a plan to enter the healthcare field spanning as far back as elementary school, research to me has always meant benchwork. However, after my time this summer I’ve come…

The Art of Science Communication

As humanity progresses and becomes more advanced, the introduction of new fields of study and specialization within existing fields becomes inevitable. With this comes more complex ways of understanding and talking about knowledge, so complex to the point that it can take years of education just to understand what is being discussed. However, it is…

An Interdisciplinary Community: Built by Our Differences

As someone conducting basic biology research, I was elated to receive the Brackenridge as it meant I would have an opportunity to engage with a community of undergraduate scholars across the spectrum of fields and research disciplines. After just a few short weeks into the fellowship, I can safely say I have not been disappointed…

Brackenridge Introduction – Richard Fang

Introduction Hello everyone! My name is Richard Fang and I am currently a rising sophomore majoring in Molecular Biology and Sociology, with minors and certificates in Chemistry, Computer Science, and Global Health. Something about me is that I traveled to three national parks at the beginning of this summer, and hiked around 30 miles in…

CURF #3: My Research Journey

Research is challenging, but it is so worth it. Through all the trials and tribulations, but also all the successes, my time during the Spring 2022 Chancellor’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship has been such a rewarding experience that I am grateful for. As I’ve taken the time to reflect on my CURF experience, I can safely…

CURF #2: Overcoming Misconceptions to Become a Researcher

As a freshman, college has been quite the overwhelming experience so far–but in a good way! I’ve been presented with more opportunities than I can take advantage of, and they’ve all come about because I stepped out of my comfort zone to ask people questions. In fact, I found my research mentor, Dr. Zuzana Swigonova,…

CURF Introduction: Touching the Invisible

Hi everyone! My name is Richard and I am a freshman majoring in Biology, minoring in Computer Science, Sociology, and Chemistry, as well as pursuing a certificate in Global Health. A fun fact about me is that I’m an avid tennis player and have even worked as a private tennis coach for two summers! Right…