BRIN

So I've given you a couple of ramblings about where I'm staying for the summer, but you're probably wondering what the heck I'm doing with my time other than having near death experiences on my bike and contemplating how best to share an apartment. I have two jobs, well maybe 2 and a half (I'm student editor for Scholastica which doesn't really count), for the summer. I work first and foremost here at the Mount doing undergraduate research. I also work part time at the Yankton Public Library (I'll elaborate later on about that).

As a biology major (and I'll add in here that despite the fact that I will be entering into my Junior year in the fall, I'm still skipping around not knowing exactly what I plan to do with my degree) I have to complete research credits before I can graduate. Because I'm usually anal about being ahead of the game, I thought that completing the project now rather than waiting until the summer before my senior year would be very beneficial. In the Spring, I applied to work under the BRIN program. BRIN is an undergraduate research program that offers grants to partner SD colleges to pay students to participate in research projects during the summer. I was super excited when I got the notification in late April that I had been accepted into the program, and thus my summer job! I'm working under Dr. Chun Wu.

Dr. Wu's project for the last few years has been to study giardiasis, a type of diarrhea caused by a parasite. The disease is common in third world countries and thus pharmacuetical companies aren't overly concerned about finding a new drug. The current drug has been found to be carcinogenic in mice. The cool part is that the ultimate goal of the research I am now doing is to actually find a new drug for the disease. We've spent the first two weeks purifying the protein (enzyme) so that we can test different inhibitors on it. I know, I know, sounds like a bunch of alien talk. Don't worry, I still feel clueless a large majority of the time.

The first day was...let's just say...a bit overwhelming. Now granted I've experienced lab with my college courses, but never as in depth as this summer project is taking me. Despite the fact that it is intimidating, it is also exciting and surely stimulating. In the first couple of weeks, I've already developed a headache or two thinking about the implications of what we're trying to do here. I've used more machines and techniques than I ever have in my life. I've also decided that no matter how complicated it gets, research is so much cooler than course lab experiments because what I'm doing actually has a purpose - like thinking in possibly largely exaggerated terms, I could make an impact on the world!

Another benefit: well, if you know anything about science, you know that it often takes time. Certain steps in the experiment take time to develop, react, etc. So, lucky for me, on those days, I get to escape from the lab and frollick around in the sun! :) For instance, today I came in at 9:00 this morning like usual; Dr. Wu explained some procedural steps to me and and then told me I was free to go and didn't have to come back until 3:00 because some cells had to run through a column before we could move on. So, I left the lab and spent the morning and afternoon catching up on a project for my sister's upcoming wedding. I will admit, I feel somewhat like a lazy pile when I think about everyone else out there slaving away, but I love it and besides, not everyday is like that. :)

BRIN is an excellent opportunity. I'm completing a course requirement, learning above and beyond what a textbook could ever teach me, getting priceless hands-on experience, I have my own personal mentor, and I'm getting paid well to do it. Any of you out there that are thinking of becoming science nerds, I'd definitely recommend the program to you in the future. For now, I'm going to give my brain a break and head out for a relaxing weekend. I'm sure you'll hear more from me about BRIN later on!