Profiles of
undergraduate researchers
Bradley Buran
has been conducting
undergraduate research in the Department of Biology
now for one year. He was first introduced to research
when in high school he became a volunteer at the National
Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
(NIDCD) of the National Institutes of Health. Wanting
to find a laboratory position closer to campus, he searched
for a faculty member with research interests similar
to his own, and began to work for Dr. Arthur Popper.
His research focuses on auditory neurobiology of deep-sea
fish, and has recently been awarded a Goldwater Fellowship.
He receives funding for his research through the HHMI
Undergraduate research fellowship program and the NIDCD.
"Deep-sea
fish are so different from more common shallow-water
species in terms of morphology and ultrastructure. Often
the ears of deep-sea fish have very intricate otoliths
(ear stones) and unique sensory cilia that are very
fascinating (and beautiful to an otolaryngologist).
It's kind of neat to know that even though I'm an undergraduate
student, I'm finding stuff that no one else has ever
seen before." 
Brad says
that the lab environment is very friendly. "We all help
each other with experiments, and discuss our research
to see if anyone else has any ideas. This gives me valuable
experience and a good background for the future. However,
the most important part of my research in Dr. Popper's
lab is the networking opportunities I receive, as I
have been introduced to quite a few people in my field
of interest." 
"My mentor
has been very supportive of my research and has provided
valuable guidance and advice, not just with my research,
but also with helping me find a graduate-level position.
In addition, the graduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral
students in the lab are often willing to talk to the
undergraduate students and give them advice about graduate
school."
Brad's plans
for the future include graduating in May 2003, and focusing
his research on developmental neurobiology of the auditory
system. Although his particular field of interest may
change, he plans to go to graduate school and complete
a doctoral degree.
Hojun Li
became interested in research as a result of taking Organic Chemistry. He started looking for a research position at
the end of his first semester, and on the recommendation of a laboratory teaching assistant, he decided to pursue a
position in Dr. Jeffery Davis' lab. There he studies
the self-assembly properties of the guanosine DNA base, and its potential as an artificial ion channel through cell
membranes.
"What I find
most interesting about my research is how much of a
phenomena chemical reactions are. It is incredible to
study why certain elements will bond with some elements
and not others, and it is even more incredible to study
why certain types of compounds will bond with themselves
to create really elaborate structures," he says.
One of Hojun's favorite aspects of research is his interaction with his mentor and others in the lab. "Its great to
meet all these different types of people who are all incredibly intelligent and know so much about chemistry and
science in general. What's really nice is that my mentor and the graduate students in the lab all treat us undergrads
as equals."
He's been awarded a Howard Hughes Fellowship, which has allowed him to pursue further research in Dr. Davis' lab, and
is currently planning on attending medical school. Hojun says that research has "helped me in pursuing my career goals
by giving me exposure to what 'real science' is, rather than the very carefully packaged information that students are
given in undergraduate science classes." He plans to graduate in Spring 2005, with Departmental Honors in both
Biochemistry and Math.
Esteban Carrizosa
has always
been interested in how microorganisms can cause disease.
After speaking with his advisor about pursuing undergraduate
research, he decided to contact some professors in the
Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, where
he chose to work in the laboratory of Dr. Daniel Stein.
Dr. Stein and his colleagues study the human pathogen
Neisseria gonorrhoeae. His project involves developing
a system to study spontaneous mutation frequencies in
the gonococcus.
"My research is interesting in that it is a small step
toward understanding how the gonococcus, as a pathogen
primarily transmitted through sexual contact, can vary
its DNA, and consequently its outer surface antigens,
to adapt to a wide variety of environmental conditions."
Working in Dr. Stein's lab has exposed Esteban to various
facets of research including molecular biology, immunology,
and microbiology. He really enjoys the lab environment.
"Dr. Stein is very helpful and the other people in the
lab are great to be around."
Esteban presented a poster detailing his research at
the 13th International Pathogenic Neisseria Conference
in Oslo, Norwayin September 2002. As far as long-term
plans go, he intends to pursue a Ph.D. in immunology
or cell biology. "I now know that I like research, and
that it's what I want to do with my life. I understand
how difficult research is, which is very valuable. A
lot of people come in expecting scientific research
to be easy, and it's not." He will graduate in the spring
of 2003, with Departmental Honors in Cell Biology and
Molecular Genetics.
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