Three weeks have passed since I arrived at OIMB. In such a short time, it feels like our group has done so much together. Although the days are long and exhausting, I find myself excited to start the day each morning. Our time is not just devoted to research; we participate in weekly lunches and seminars with other researchers and professors. I used to have my reservations and feelings of inadequacies because a career in science is something I had only envisioned for myself relatively recently. Hearing various stories from a diverse group of people about how they progressed through their own career has been encouraging. This past week, I have been mapping out my research project to examine the photoresponse of Halimedusa typus in comparison to Polyorchis penicillatus. I had initially wanted to observe their behaviors over 24 hours to see how they responded to extended periods of light and darkness. The most frustrating part was setting up infrared lighting because I could not get a good enough angle so that the camcorder could pick up the smaller jellyfish in the dark. I began to have other issues with data storage and replicating environmental conditions, so I decided to scrap this research design for the time being and move on to another idea. This hiccup was frustrating, but it would be foolish to expect my first research experience to go smoothly. On the bright side, I finally struck gold and was able to collect plenty of Halimedusa during a hide tide. I'll finish my light response experiment by the end of the weekend and visualize my data sometime next week. I am contemplating examining their prey capture location or fluid motion next. I have so many ideas and areas I want to explore, but my time at OIMB is only so long. Be sure to tune in next week for more exciting updates!😊 small Polyorchis stuck in a monster Polyorchis
1 Comment
Trevyn Sanborn
7/5/2021 07:28:10 pm
Nice! Very interesting and informative. I look forward to the rest of the research you will do.
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AuthorHello everyone! My name is Dominic Eastburn. I grew up in Fortuna, California. For the past two years, I have attended Green River Community College in Auburn, Washington. This fall, I am transferring to the University of Washington to pursue a BS in Oceanography. I am excited and grateful to be participating in Professor Kelly R. Sutherland's lab that focuses on the form, function, and flow of gelatinous zooplankton. Over the next nine weeks, I hope to develop valuable skills to prepare me for university and graduate school. Archives
August 2021
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