End of Week 2 at UCONN

Another week of being at UCONN has gone by. It's crazy to think that I only have 8 more weeks left!

This week started out rough because the homesickness really hit me hard. Monday I was ok, but Tuesday I came into work with no motivation. I actually started crying in lab and had to step out to compose my self. Not my proudest moment.

As rough as the week started, it ended on a high note. I was in the lab this morning which was a drag because no one wants to be in lab on the weekend. After I left lab, I took a nap which was so amazing. It was really needed.

Tonight, a group of people from the REU went bowling which was really fun. It wasn't really bowling. It was actually called duck bowling where the ball is very small and doesn't have finger holes. The pins are also very small and it was A LOT harder. Even though it was harder it was a lot of fun being out with people and enjoying some time away from campus.

This is what a cell plate with media in it (the pink liquid) looks like. I work with this type of plate on a daily basis.

Lab work this week was the same situation as last week. We ran three different LDH assays to check for liver toxicity. Today I learned how to perform RNA isolation, which was interesting. On Friday I performed my own LDH assay for the very first time. I messed up a bit (sloshing the plate around isn't preferable) but the data ended up coming out find. I will need to repeat the assay since I know I messed up. But for a first try, it didn't go too badly.

Looking forward to this upcoming week at UCONN.

- Saren