Rhoda Kaddu, COL ’25, Lowell, MA
This summer, I was fortunate to work in Dr.Dustin Brisson’s Evolutionary and Ecology
Lab at Penn’s Biology Department. Penn’s First-Year Exposure to Research Biological Sciences (Penn FERBS) Program introduced me to scientific research by placing me in Brisson’s Lab. Although I worked in this lab throughout my first year, I began researching new questions with new lab techniques this summer. Over the academic year, I began my journey in research by analyzing how certain geographic factors impact tick migration and Lyme disease. I read and discussed various scientific journal articles with my mentor. As I hoped to continue to grow my lab confidence and skills, I knew working in the summer would be the best opportunity for me.
With the Career Service Center’s financial support, I began asking new evolutionary and
ecological questions. My research shifted from a Lyme Disease focus to a Phage Virulent focus. By reading various scientific journal articles, I could grasp what lab techniques would help me understand what temporal factors impact the virulence of Phage Lambda. Before this summer, I was only familiar with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), gel electrophoresis, and Qbit concentration. To answer these new questions required new techniques. I spent several weeks learning to electroporate cells, extract DNA, and culture cells. These newfound skills enabled me to aid my mentor’s project and further expand my knowledge in research.
Some weeks consisted of repetitive application of lab techniques, while others consisted of analyses of prior data to effectively move forward. I would learn the R programming language through its Swirl Application on less technical days. The proficiency in R aided in my comparison of the phage DNA. With all of these applications, we could look at real-world concerns. As we emerge from the pandemic, understanding the virulence of infectious diseases is critical. As pandemics progress, the virulence of the pathogen changes and affects the population differently. In the case of Phage Lambda, its virulence is affected by the time and infection rates of the population. I analyzed this dynamic by infecting and culturing cells and using PCR and gel electrophoresis to assess if the infection was successful. To combat current and prevent future pandemics, I am aware that collaborative scientific and community efforts are the biggest tool.
As I hope to pursue a career in STEM, I plan to pursue as many opportunities to figure out what specific career. Over the summer, my time in this lab made me realize my interest in infectious diseases, especially viruses. As I hope to continue my time in research, I will seek and apply for a research lab that focuses on virology questions.
This is part of a series of posts by recipients of the 2022 Career Services Summer Funding Grant. We’ve asked funding recipients to reflect on their summer experiences and talk about the industries in which they spent their summer. You can read the entire series here.
