I worked as an undergraduate researcher in a plant sciences lab located on campus. I worked under the supervision of Dr. Gary D. Coleman, who was the head of the lab. I primarily worked with Reuben Tayengwa, a post-doc in the lab who took on a mentorship role. As an undergraduate, my primary responsibilities were to maintain the genetically modified lines in the lab and keep the lab clean. Once I had completed the necessary line maintenance, I was then able to create my own genetically modified poplar plants using synthesized gene inserts.
Within genetic engineering, some genes are known as embryo lethal; meaning that any offspring that possesses this gene will die. Genetically modified plants are usually stored as seeds (aside from plants that reproduce using spores). To study these genes, the genetic lines must be kept alive and propagated every few months. The lab I work in uses a process called micropropagation to keep the plants in a state where they can be easily manipulated and studied. Micropropagation is a process where plants are grown in a sterile environment on a gel media. This gel contains all the necessary nutrients that a plant needs to survive along with glucose, gelling agents, water, and sometimes growth hormones and antibiotics.
At the beginning of the summer, I spent most of my time doing transfers, dishes, and making media. After about 3 weeks, I finished all the transfers in the lab and then did some general cleaning. I quickly took a liking to any task that required organization, so I took it upon myself to organize the genetic lines within the lab and was then assigned to the greenhouse to clear out the plants we had growing in there as well. After organizing the greenhouse, I was able to help prepare and create genetically modified poplars.
Gene transformations are a multi-step process that takes about two months from receiving the synthesized genes to having your new genetic line. Although I had learned about CRISPR and agrobacterium as forms of gene transformation, learning about the process and doing it yourself were two vastly different experiences. When doing transformations, I had to follow complex protocols that took weeks. I had to be in constant communication with the other scientists in the lab in case I needed help with something. I was not a member of any team, but I often was in a mentee position with the other two members in my lab, as I was an undergraduate student and they were experienced researchers. Additionally, I recorded all of my work in case I had to replicate anything in the future. This helped me when one of the modified gene groups died and I had to restart the poplar transformation process.
Throughout my academic career, I have been slowly honing in on the kind of job I want. In high school I discovered that I wanted to work in genetics, in my freshman year of college I realized that I only wanted to work in plant genetics, and over the summer I discovered the type of job I didn't want. My job over the summer was in a lab where I was primarily doing solo work and inside. It became very lonely. That is not to say I am ungrateful for the opportunity. I got to create something wholly unique and strengthen my love and interest in plant genetics. However, this opportunity allowed me to try to broaden my horizons in terms of work experience. This summer I will be working as a plant breeder at the USDA, I will be surrounded by people and primarily working outside. I have a feeling in the future I will settle on a very happy medium between these two jobs.
If future scholars find themselves in the position to accept lab research work, I would recommend taking it. Lab work is invaluable for anyone who sees themselves pursuing a research career. If the lab job is not one you love, you have still gained a valuable skill set and can now filter future jobs based on your experience.