It’s odd to think about how much I have come to love benchwork. My prior research experience involved me doing a lot of field work and a little bit of benchwork, whereas this research has kept me tied to the bench with very little field work. Although it’s a completely different environment, I learned to love it the same. Being that lab work is in a more fixed setting, it has allowed me to work on refining my technique and approach in a more concise manner. That is not to say that bench work does not have its uncertainties. This week alone has been a never-ending trial of PCR, troubleshooting, purification, and more troubleshooting. Troubleshooting has been one of the more agonizing aspects of this experiment. Especially when you place so much effort into one step of the process and it does not pan out in your favor.
Thankfully, I get to be part of this program and not place too much emphasis on making a home run out of every pitch. I get to strike out and come right back to the plate for another swing. I don’t have to worry about grades, I can just focus on refining my skill set. I always strive to do better than the day before, but I do it knowing that this is done out of my own benefit. Whether it is trying to get a little bit faster at loading gels, being more efficient with timing procedures, or even just getting into lab a little bit earlier and making up a pot of coffee ready for everyone in lab. Another aspect I have come to appreciate while being part of the REU program is collegiality. I have come to value the collegial environment in research settings as it provides an opportunity to have discussions pertaining to one’s research. Or, alternatively it can serve as an outlet to your frustrations. Sometimes we bond over a cup of coffee, and sometimes we bond over a game of hackie-sack. It all just depends on everyone’s availability, but there is a more-or-less a silent mutual agreement between all of us that sometimes we just need a take step away from research and enjoy some casual moments. So as this work week went on it became progressively chaotic. It never quite felt that the results matched the efforts, but my perseverance and many cups of coffee kept me through it. On the Fourth of July I, along with the other REU interns and UO students, took the day off and enjoyed myself at the beach. It was a break well worth pushing for.
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AuthorI’m a first-generation college student. I like enjoying the outdoors and finding new hiking trails. Archives
August 2019
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