6/3/2024
It is officially June! I feel very accomplished to start this new month learning a new skill at the lab. One of the grad student in my lab taught me how to use the sewing machine. It was something that they needed to use so that they could make mesh bags they will fill up with litter to be put in the field. It was a great craft skill to learn. It was kind of different since the fabric we were sewing is not actually fabric, rather it was a slippery kind of material. Overall, we have to sew around 200 bags for this size.
6/4/2024
Today we had the first OURI workshop and first weekly meetings. For the OURI workshop, we learned the different roles and relationship in the lab. Afterwards, I headed back to the lab to finish the bags. For today, we just needed to cut them into squares since we finished sewing all of them yesterday. I finished cutting all of them in one day. Overall, it was an eventful but relaxing day.
6/5/2024
This day started of with lots of rain. I started of with looking for articles to read to write my research proposal. My PI assigned me to write a research proposal for an independent project I can conduct along the ongoing project we are working on this summer. One of the grad students showed me some insects they had in their office. We continued with learning how to identify the different arthropods, specifically insects this time. We were suppose to start with our trials today, however due to the bad weather one of the lab person who was going to teach me was not able to come to Rice. Even with the delay, I just found myself working on reading articles and drafting my research proposal. Overall it is a very calm day in the lab compared to the weather.
6/6/2024
It was very busy in the lab today. We started working on DNA extractions for the arthropods. Right now, the lab people were teaching me using the backup samples that they had. We got to use the biosafety cabinet today. It was a really easy process but it takes time since we have to be very delicate not to contaminate the samples. We had to remove the arthropods from the ethanol so that we can extract the DNA later. Once we removed the arthropods from the ethanol, we let it dry for 24 hours before we move on with the process. Afterwards, I helped one of the grad students with finishing her litter bags. She is sewing a different size of litter bags. The fabric for the litter bags we are sewing this time was harder than the previous one. Overall, one of the busiest day I had so far in the lab.
6/7/24
Today, the sample that we extracted yesterday has dried off enough to continue the process of the DNA extraction. There was a protocol that we had to follow which was easy enough for me to understand. Right now, we are still working on a way to make sure that we get enough DNA from the arthropods so that they are good to be used. The samples that we practiced on yesterday sat on a water bath for 4 hours. It takes a lot of patience in order to work on this process, which I will learn as I work on this REU.
Patience is the key! I’m glad you will be working on an independent project as well.
I had no idea a sewing machine would be used in a lab!! 200 bags is a lot! How big are the bags?
It was very interesting to learn that these kind of skills can also come in handy in the lab. The size of the bags are around 4×4 and their material are all very different.
Cassedy, it’s great to hear that you are gaining some practical experience along with the technical research you’re doing. Continue to find balance in the work you’re doing and I look forward to hearing more about your time in the lab in the coming weeks!