USC Wrigley Institute – wrigley.usc.edu
By Nick Fisk
I don’t think I’ll ever forget the first time I looked out at the island from the labs at the Wrigley Institute.
Who could, with a view like this?
So far, life here at WIES in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program is exceeding all my expectations. From the science to exploring Catalina, I’m having a BLAST (get it? genetics humor…) at every turn. My graduate mentor, Rohan Sachdeva with Dr. John Heidelberg‘s lab, is who I have spent the most time with since arriving on the island. It seems that the folks in charge out here did a good job pairing people with mentors and with projects, because everyone is so passionate about their research. The same holds true for me.
I guess now is as good as time as any to mention that my project is a bit different than my peers. The goal of my project is to identify and describe the activity of deep sea bacteria and archaea communities, using a metagenomic and metatranscriptomic framework. What this boils down to is a little bit of lab work (to isolate DNA and RNA) and a whole lot of computer work to get a sort of snapshot of the deep sea micro-critters. To me, this is one of the most exciting things I could be doing. It has applications in a wide range of fields, from conservation to climate change, from human health to aquaculture microbiomes, and from bioremediation to biodiversity. Of course, it hasn’t been without its hiccups (after all, science seldom goes smoothly!) but even when I mess up, I’m learning and I’m enjoying myself. It helps that my mentor is such a chill dude, too, and is always patient with me.
Aren’t they just the cutest?
Of course, not all my time here has been spent on my project. Since my research doesn’t really involve any field work, my fellow REUs have invited me to help out with their various projects. I’ve gone to the beach to help collect mussels. I’ve gone to tide pools to release extra copepods. The geospatial team has invited me to go with them to geotag leopard sharks. I didn’t even have an idea of how any of these creatures even looked before arriving here. And for the record, leopard sharks are pretty darn cool. Beyond helping each other with our research projects, we find other ways to enjoy ourselves. After all, this IS the Catalina Island. We’ve gone kayaking and hiking, snorkeling and swimming. Perhaps my favorite thing is the REU ping pong tournament we have going on.
Winner plays REU Coordinator Dr. Diane Kim in a ping pong battle to the death!
I honestly thought I was going to be a bit of a loner here. Everyone’s project seemed so different than mine, and then there’s the fact that we came here from all over the nation. It probably doesn’t help that I am a bit of an oddball (as is the stereotype for bioinformatics/computer people). It makes me incredibly happy to realize that my fellow REUs both accept and embrace it. There is nothing quite like heading back from the lab after a long day of science to a group of friends like this.
REU group trip to Hollywood
I guess science helps bring people together after all.