http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/
The picture and her post about how each of her students is a scientist made me think about me being a scientist so I just wanted to share about my experience being a scientist thus far.
So, let's begin with a little background. I was incredibly blessed to be drawn to an undergrad institution that allowed me to do scientific research all four years I was in school there. The easy explanation of what I did was work to cure cancer. In reality, what I did will only very, very distantly influence the cancer field but it was always nice to have a basis for my work.
Now moving into graduate school, I will rotate through three labs this year and at the end of the year I will choose the lab to work in until my thesis committee deems me ready to graduate (hopefully after working in the lab for about four years). Coming in to choose a lab I was faced with the fact that I can't choose a lab simply because they are working on something related to cancer even though that explanation has become so comforting to me so, I am expanding my view and trying new things.
So, now about my first rotation. The lab I am working in does basic research (meaning working mainly within cells, not up to the level of applying it in humans) but everything relates to a disease. The project I am working on deals with how toxins (and also medicines) are broken down within the body. I've only been working in the lab for two weeks so I'm not really into the details of the project but just being in the lab has reminded me that a scientist is constantly asking questions and looking for new ways to answer those questions. As Lucas says, I've suddenly become friends with people who are on average 25 years old and these people are indeed changing how I view life and science. So, I look forward to beginning to ask more and more questions and keeping you and maybe even some little first graders updated on what a scientist is.
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