This Monday marked a significant milestone as I commenced my research journey at the Stem Cell Translational Laboratory (SCTL) within the National Institutes of Health’s Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS).
June 10, 2024: Orientation
My first real day! The interns here are passive on the surface, but there’s an undercurrent of ambition and hard work. Met a few over Panera pastries – I snagged a bear claw and cinnamon bagel and savored both while meticulously noting down the NCATS organizational structure and mission in my day’s agenda, setting a precedent for meaningful documentation and reflection throughout my internship.
June 11, 2024: Conversational Tips
The day began with a lab meeting at 9:30 am, where I absorbed a lot (check journal for details). David had a bioinformatics expert analyze a sample of sensory neurons to identify protein changes under different conditions.
Lunch with David and the team at Chipotle was an eye-opener in the fine balance of professional communication. Conversations flowed naturally from work to personal anecdotes. I felt awkward initially, unsure of what to share, but Seungmi’s interest in my school life in Fairfax taught me to bring up relevant aspects of my life which I discover could spark engaging conversations. This insight with Yelise and Seungmi’s reactions to my commute story, and Hannah’s quickly waning disinterest in my lengthy talk about NoVA counties, highlighted the importance of keeping life details brief and engaging. I need to start or respond naturally but keep it smooth and be the one to end it.
June 12, 2024: Co-Elaboration
David is a fountain of ideas, with Vukasin challenging and encouraging them. They discussed detecting electrical spikes in a 2D pilot and later a 3D organoid (Vukasin’s suggestion) for their project with Seungmi, and their collaboration despite diffrent projets struck me differently than the conversations I’d had with anyone since arriving o Monday. Pinar later updated David on cell cultures, leading to a detailed discussion about seeding new plates and specific culture details.
Exploring the plaza, I found a Bethesda Bagels, a liquor store, a smoothie place, and an ice cream spot. Connecting with interns like Dan, Lania, and Riya, I realized the importance of maintaining my professional frame. Speaking with expectation—loud, clear, and full sentences—became my new goal.
Back in the lab, I helped David with PLO in a six-well plate and learned about the Geltrex process. David explained the MEA machines and the planned experiments to measure sensory neurons’ responses to inflammatory soup and various drugs. Tomorrow, we’ll purchase antibodies to stain certain voltage-gated ion channels activated by the inflammatory soup.
June 13, 2024: First Cell Culture
Traffic and balloons are the bane of my existence.
I arrived eight minutes late after chatting with a Special Olympics competitor. In the lab, Vukasin guided David away from testing too many new variables at once, emphasizing a balanced approach. David explained the Geltrex procedure, and I took over coating seven six-well plates on my own.
Lunch with Leonard and Dan at Chipotle revealed that being preoccupied isn’t ideal for socializing. I led most of the conversation with Roni, but he seemed more in control, teaching me to think quickly and choose my words carefully. His work on prostate cancer in Black and White men and his publication plans inspired me to aim for extensive writing in pain medicine and neuroscience journals.
Back in the lab, David and I collected media and paused for a postdoc interview. I realized my passive approach was confusing David, making him think he needed to explain basic concepts to me. I resolved to stay alert, even in the evenings, finding a quiet place to rest at lunch and drinking tea to stay focused. I also need to write everything down shamelessly and approach my mistakes maturely, showing a drive to learn and improve.
June 14, 2024: Relationships
Taking the metro again, I locked in on my game, both productive and non-professional. A conversation with a UIUC girl taught me the importance of balancing openness with self-preservation. In the lab, David and I spent most of the day working. My cells had more dead cells than expected, while David’s had more progenitors, highlighting the importance of monitoring cryopreserved cells.
I improved my lab protocol skills, learning to prepare PLO and Laminin faster. I also worked on developing a strong intuition for cleanliness and avoiding distractions. I need to stay 100% focused in the lab and take breaks outside if needed.
Reflections and Next Steps
This week has been a whirlwind of learning, mistakes, and small victories. I’ve realized the importance of maintaining a professional demeanor while also being open and communicative. My focus for the coming weeks will be on solidifying my knowledge, improving my lab techniques, and integrating myself more fully into the team. With each day, I’m moving closer to my goal of becoming a confident, capable researcher.