Jillian Haller '23: How I Prepared for Lab Work
I am a neuroscience major with minors in Spanish and biochemistry.
This summer, I was an undergraduate research student with the Ables Lab in the Psychiatry Department at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. In the Ables Lab, I worked under the mentorship of Jessica Ables, M.D., Ph.D.
The two projects I was involved in studied the protein translation within the habenulo-interpeduncular circuit during fear learning, and value-based decision making in diabetic mice. I learned several new lab techniques including RNA extraction and purification, PCR, electrophoresis, and Western Blots.
My Experiences at The University of Scranton
My experiences in the Neuroscience Program at The University of Scranton prepared me well for this experience. Here at The University of Scranton, I began my own research with Dr. Jong-Hyun Son during my freshman year. My three years of experience with self-guided research provided me with the critical thinking skills and fundamental lab technique that allowed me to contribute to the Ables Lab.The neuroscience courses I have taken here also contributed to my readiness for this experience. Classes like Behavioral Neuroscience and Research Methods provided me with a solid understanding of the principles of neuroscience and confidence in the lab environment.
My experience in the Ables Lab has been invaluable to me, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to collaborate with other neuroscientists.