In the Summer of 2025 I had the privilege to work in a neurobiology research lab. I gained independence and confidence as a researcher and learned technical skills. I pushed myself to learn how to handle mice with both accuracy and composure as I administered intraperitoneal injections or estrous staging. My initial attempts were slow and unsure, but I improved with practice and support from fellow lab students and my PI. What had seemed overwhelming at first became instinctive  and much of what I did later in the lab was made possible by this newfound skill. 

The  experiment examined mice’s rapid tolerance to alcohol. I assisted in conducting behavioral testing using the Light-Dark Box, an assay that assesses movement patterns and anxiety-like behavior. I was in charge of getting the animals ready for testing, using Anymaze software to score their behavior, and properly injecting alcohol intraperitoneally to make sure our data was accurate. 

As the summer went on I took on more tasks working with the mice and thus sharpening my skills.To accurately group the mice by cycle stage, I learned how to stage the estrous cycle in females. I assisted with tissue preparation and brain dissections, gaining experience in RNA isolation and immunohistochemistry. My confidence with basic animal handling made it easier to take on these more precise tasks.

I went from requiring supervision at every turn to being trusted to work independently by the end of the summer. This independence demonstrated to me how becoming proficient in one area of research can lead to increased responsibilities and a deeper interest in the work.

I am continuing to build on the foundation I laid over that summer as I continue in the same lab throughout my sophmore/junior/senior year. What began as such uncomfortable tasks has developed into a greater sense of self-assurance in my abilities as a scientist. Perseverance in mastering a single ability can have a cascading effect, encouraging advancement in several research areas and equipping me for the next stages of my academic career.