This summer, I was given the opportunity to do research in a laboratory at Columbia University Medical Center in the Department of Neonatology. Over the past 5 weeks, I have been learning a variety of skills including how to operate different laboratory apparatus and how to analyze data. These skills are necessary to master in order to conduct an individual research paper throughout the next few weeks of summer.
From this experience, I hope to gain more of a sense of direction in terms of a career path. I, like many college students, do not know exactly what it is that I want to do after graduation. I have always loved science and know that I want to do something relating to human biology, I am just not sure what. I am hoping that working in a lab will open yet another door for me and let me experience the more behind the scenes work of medicine. With the end goal of publishing my own paper, pursuing research will help me to become a better writer, which is a skill that would help me anywhere in life, but especially if I decide to apply to medical school or graduate school in the future. Overall, this research experience is a great way for me to experience just one of the things that I can do after graduation.
Tara O’Hagan
Biology
Tara,
Great post – it seems like this is an awesome opportunity for you, both in terms of helping you become a better writer as well as figuring out your post-graduate plans! I have done research in the Chemistry Department at Scranton, and loved it. Is this your first time doing research? Also, what types of laboratory apparatus have you been exposed to? Looking forward to seeing how your summer pans out with the research!
Tara,
This looks like a really interesting opportunity. I am wondering what kind of experimental work you are doing at Columbia? Also, I completely understand not knowing what to do after graduation. Hopefully, this experience will convince you to go to graduate school!