Reflection about J-term Class

J-term research for undergraduate students planning to go for graduate school is helpful in a sense that it gives them the idea of how research would be like. It helps them to figure out the problems researchers can encounter. This full time J-term research provided me the opportunity to work on research that I have not done before. My interest in research came on my mind when my friend was died from unknown disease. Then I decided to work on the field of research science. I was mentally prepared to it after I took Biology and Biochemistry class here at Loras. I learned a lot about biomolecules, protein-protein interaction and pathways that occurs in our body. I came to know that a biochemical pathway that occurs in our body is responsible for cause of several diseases. So, with a hope to know more about research and life of scientist I am taking this class which seems productive so far. 

This class has strengthened my mind choosing research as a future carrier. I have heard lot about the life of researcher. However, this research class has helped me experience and know more about their life. More from life, it is helpful in shaping my mind as research as a whole. I used to think that life as a research scientist is boring; however, this class has changed my mind. I found my project interesting in a sense that I keep on making same mistake. This develops my habit of doing only one part one day and get familiar with making protocols and keep on working unless and until you get the  desired result.  Before I start, I could think that working 8-9 hours per day would be okay. I could finish my whole project within a week. This class changed the way how I think about research and scientists in general.

The tour at University of Iowa provided me the opportunity to learn more about graduate program and the getting prepared with it. The group discussion with faculty of University of Iowa and their student was productive to me. I learned about the student selection process which is invaluable knowledge I got from the discussion. Getting to know from the official person about the program and the ways of increasing changes are important to me in my future carrier.   Experience they share with us is inspiring to me.  The lab tour was fascinating which I had never seen in my life. Biochemistry lab, NMR facility center and biology department (especially advanced microscope) are awesome instruments that I had never seen before. Overall, this tour provided an ample opportunity to getting prepared for graduate school and getting to know more about the life of the scientist.

I am positive about research and adopting life as research scientist. However, this field has certain draw backs. Research is time consuming work. It is done based on assumption and if the assumption is correct then the research is successful and he/she can move forward. Since things react differently than our prediction which is challenging task to overcome. This makes some people feel frustrated and discouraged when doing research. Even in this class I have heard most of the students chatting about their failure. This is experience I got so far is useful tool to continue my life as research scientist.