Maddie is a senior from Colleyville, TX majoring in Biological Sciences with a minor in Global Health. The project she is currently working on is the Functional Analysis of Candidate Genes Involved in the Temporal Host Response in the department of Biological Sciences.
What got you started in undergraduate research?
I worked in a senior living communities growing up and worked through the Coronavirus pandemic. I wanted to study biology so I could better understand why older adults were at such a higher risk for viral infections like Coronavirus and experienced more severe symptoms than younger adults. When looking for labs to join my freshman year I wanted to find a research lab that had similar interests to me, so I found a lab that studies the changes of immune system as a function of aging and how they relate to disease states.
What are you currently working on?
I am working on project with the National Institute of Health that was written in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. To do this I am conducting an analysis of candidate genes involved in the host response to RNA virus infections in Drosophila melanogaster. It is hoped that my results in this project will be used to create human gene therapies.
How does participating in research align with your future career goals?
I am going into a career field that utilizes scientific education and by presenting my research I am able to practice my ability to take complex topics and explain them on a level that is understandable by the general public.
What advice would you give a student considering going into research?
I would tell a student interested in getting involved in research to pick a topic they are passionate about. The work you do will be so much more rewarding when you have a personal connection to the topic and know the work you are doing today will impact others later.
Who is your mentor and how did you get connected with them?
I found my mentor on the Biological Sciences Departmental website and found that we had similar interests. I then read several of her recent publications and emailed her asking to set up a meeting to discuss her research and display my interest in joining her lab.
What else are you involved in on campus?
I have served on the executive board of Beta Beta Beta, the Biological Honors Society, the past three years and am currently the president. I am also a mentor for New View, a program for first-year out of state students in the First Year Experience office. I previously was an orientation leader and a peer advisor with the Capstone Center for Student Success. I am also obtaining my master’s degree in Biological Sciences through the Accelerated Master’s Program. Finally, I serve as the lab manager of my research lab.