SUMMER RESEARCH TRAINING PLAN (a sketch)

The following is a rough description about what I plan to do in the laboratory this summer. It only contains the topic of neuroscience and not include the contents of interdisciplinary studies , which are also important parts supporting long-term and novel scientific research.
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This summer course will be made of two major parts. These parts will be integrated so that I can learn as many as possible in limited time. First of all, I will learn the techniques which are important in neuroscience research. At the same time, I will read more articles related to the fields that I am interested in. Through this process, I may find a topic with biological significance and investigate it vigorously and conscientiously.

The main techniques I will learn include Immunohistochemistry, quantitation of neurons/nerve fibers, morphometric studies, and animal surgical procedures. I will practice above-mentioned techniques and make myself be proficient at them. If there is a chance, I hope that I can also learn some techniques in cell biology. Maybe it is a good idea to combine experimental data both from molecular level and morphological level.

The major field that I am interested in is about the nerve degeneration, regeneration and nociception. Only limited time is available, so I will focus on the study in nerve degeneration and nociception. I will choose one factor that can cause nerve degeneration and evaluate its effects. According to previous studies, we can examine both temporal and spatial changes in skin innervation of the mouse footpad. For example, we can divide mouse into several groups. Then we sacrifice them in different time after the operation. In each group, we can use such as immunohistochemical techniques, fluorescence and electron microscopy to measure the changes in the areas we are concerned. If time is enough, maybe in the next semester, I want to investigate the nerve regeneration. We can continue the experiment which we have started, observing what will happen after the operation, maybe in a period of several months. Just like what previously described, we can use techniques such as immunohistochemistry to study the extent of regeneration. For example, we can study the reinnervation of skin. Also, we can measure the density and diameter of regenerating nerve and compare them with the control group. Electrophysiology is also fascinating, but it is much more complicated for me, so I think I need more time to study them.

Paralleling to the study of nerve degeneration, it is desirable to investigate the pain reaction. We can test the behavior of mouse in several ways. For example, we can measure how long a mouse will react to a stimulus which may be thermal, cold or mechanical.

For a beginner, it is urgent to absorb more knowledge on this field. This plan will be modified when I learn more things or when I come up some idea in the future.

Many classmates will go to laboratories this summer ~

I heard that many classmates participate in the project of genomic and proteomic research . It is definitely an interesting project . There are many pioneering techniques which may be helpful in solving biological puzzles . There is no denying that basic research is a hard work , but it is also fascinating . Especially when we develop something that can help people or revolutionize the whole world .

Time is going so fast~

I feel that time is going so fast this semester . So far I haven't achieved or finished any significant thing !! And I think it is a serious problem for me . I am not going to waste my life anymore!! I must work still harder and not care about things that are not crucial to me . I have to concentrate on truly meaningful things and make them more meaningful ! I surely realize what I want and I will get them at all costs !!!

CRAZY SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!

What a crazy day!! I got up at "2:00 AM" and take the bus to Ilan on 3:10 AM . I saw many interesting things that I had not experienced . For example , I realized how a fish can be caught and then be bought by a consumer . We also interviewed some fishermen , knowing that they actually face many problems . I got back to the library at 14:00 . I am too tired to write anything now......

My mood after exams....

Maybe you think that people should be happy after so many exams . Such idea may be applied to many people but not me . After many exams , such as calculus , general physics and organic chemistry , I am a frustrated student now . In general , a student who prepared the exams well should get good grades on the exams . But in my recent cases , I didn't perform well in subjects that I am good at , or at least , well-prepared . I am wondering the reasons that cause these results . I have several ideas now . For example , maybe I care some subjects too much . Well , it may have some effects , but I don't think it is the main cause . Because I got good grades on these subjects in my high school life . I paid much more attention to such things before . I need to find the solutions that can help me learn more and have good grades.Even though I don't regard the exams too much , I still think that tests can help me evaluate my learning ability . If I get bad grades on tests , I should know the reasons .
I am too tired to think today , but I will solve this problem . You guys should not be suspicious about my determination !!

CONCERTED REACTIONS

Recently I studied the organic chemistry very intensively . I think knowledge itself is very interesting , but the exams are not . By the way , I read the materials about concerted reactions, which impressed me very much . I had not known that people can predict what a reaction will go on before I studied what Woodward and Hoffmann contributed to our world . Maybe biology can also go in this way . Such work needs investigators with great intelligence and dedication , and I WILL participate in this research area no matter what obstacles I will face !! I WILL OVERCOME ALL OF THE BARRIERS !

Keep going !

I promise that you will achieve your goal . What you should do now is keep going and never stop !!!




I hope that I can realize my dream too ....