7/29/24 – NCATS Summer Poster Day
The day kicked off with a chaotic morning involving DC traffic to drop my friends off, a rear-end collision, and rushing to practice my presentation with David. Despite the challenges, I hoped the next 40 minutes would help me solidify my talk.
When I saw my poster for the first time, I was reminded of the anticipation and worries that had built up. As I set up the poster in the conference room, David joined me after lunch, and we ran through the presentation, addressing smaller critiques and refining our approach. Although I still struggled with some parts of the chronology and my later sections were less polished, we focused on making the most of what I understood. I accepted that my understanding of the project would be imperfect but aimed to present the best version of it I could.
Late to arrive at the poster day, David and I secured the unwanted spot at the front, ensuring high visibility. Engaging with the most attendees, I found my belief in the power of presenting something novel and exciting reaffirmed by the people genuinely interested in learning about our research. Despite some anxiety and occasional flubs, the positive feedback from peers and attendees was encouraging. I took notes on the experience to improve for future presentations and appreciated the chance to reflect on my performance and growth throughout the day.
07/30/24 – The Power of Asking Questions
The day started with an early visit to the lab, where I was eager to catch Carlos before his busy schedule took over. We exchanged stories about his family trip and discussed his role as a PI and his views on my recent poster presentation. I noticed my tendency to rush when I sensed he had other pressing tasks, a habit I’m determined to refine. My conversations with Kody about his cell work and my burgeoning love for research provided a fresh perspective on asking innovative questions. This theme of inquiry continued during my meeting with Dr. Webster-Cyriaque, whose career shift from dental research to policy highlighted the profound impact of administrative roles. Her advice to ignore others’ limitations and forge my path resonated deeply, reinforcing my commitment to balancing research with policy ambitions.
Later, Kody’s feedback on my poster presentation was eye-opening. He suggested that focusing on the novel aspects of our project would make my presentation more compelling rather than downplaying the previous work. This insight underscored the importance of making my research engaging to convey my goals and aspirations effectively. David’s update on ribosomal profiling and research pressures reaffirmed my resolve to pursue a research-driven career addressing global health challenges through biomedical innovation.
07/31/24 – The Guy In the Chair
Today felt like diving deeper into the research vortex. Collaborating with David on refining DCC-related pathways and pain sensitization was both exhilarating and educational. Our discussion uncovered new mechanisms, enhancing my understanding and contributing meaningfully to his work. David’s approach to balancing his responsibilities around paternity leave and vacations offered valuable lessons in time management. The lunchtime vendor showcase was a refreshing reminder of the lab’s wealth of resources, with David’s tips on leveraging opportunities proving practical and insightful.
The afternoon was dedicated to perfecting my poster presentation. David’s feedback helped refine my delivery, emphasizing the importance of clarity and engagement. An unexpected encounter with medicinal chemistry researcher Konstantinos provided inspiring insights into career progression and perseverance. His experiences and encouragement were a boost, highlighting the value of determination and faith in achieving career goals.
08/01/24 – Tangential, yet Impactful, New Perspectives
Today’s rush led me to join a coding class via phone while navigating the busy roads. The VSOAR student presentations at the professional poster fair revealed the breadth of bioinformatics and its role in translating data into meaningful research. I focused on posters relevant to my interests and engaged with several TJ interns, gaining insights into their work.
An unexpected twist came with the early closure at NCATS, which disrupted my plans but allowed me to refocus on David’s expectations for my presentation and upcoming experiments. Despite the minor setback of missing the bus, I had a chance to meet with Mr. K, whose journey from a challenging start to a prestigious career was both motivational and reassuring. His advice reinforced the importance of perseverance and adaptability, qualities I’ll carry forward in my research and career path.
08/02/24 – NIH Poster Day
The day kicked off with final adjustments to my poster presentation. I refined the sections on downstream signaling molecules and honed the future directions to ensure clarity and impact. Drawing from Chris’ UNC CS takeover, I incorporated insights on entrepreneurship, adding a practical edge to my presentation strategy. As I navigated the poster session, I observed that NCI interns who had multiple practice rounds exhibited significantly stronger presentations. The second day’s reduced crowd and improved content highlighted how iterative practice and a day of reflection can enhance presentation quality.
During my presentation, I connected with several intriguing individuals, each offering fresh perspectives on my research. A highlight was capturing a group photo with all the interns and another with my mentors, including David, who showcased his NEI connections by securing a commemorative mug. Belen’s tour of the clinical center provided valuable insights into its operations and infrastructure, enriching my overall experience.
The day reinforced my confidence in engaging with students from any university. No longer intimidated by those who might be further along in their academic journeys, I realized that my experiences are interesting and my knowledge is valuable.