My name is Trisha Saha and I will be an undergraduate blogger on Nature Network!
I’m from Ann Arbor, Michigan, but I’d say there is more blue devil than wolverine in me…
I spent the past summer at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute/MGH studying induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and cardiac progenitors. I think iPS cells are absolutely fascinating!!
Cardiovascular Research Center, MGH
I combined my interests in heart development and stem cell biology as a member of a biomedical engineering lab last year where I helped design a cardiac patch.
This summer I plan on working at the University of Michigan School of Public Health on a health disparities project. It is a big change from wet lab work, but I really value getting exposure to different fields of work. I like viewing science in a more multidisciplinary way. Right now, I’m in the process of applying to medical school so I’m doing my best to think about the future while living in the moment.
I think Nature Network is a wonderful way to learn about new fields of research and the different career paths in science. After science blogging a couple summers ago, I realized that I wanted to be a part of this community that is revolutionizing the scientific atmosphere. Matt was so kind in letting me start my own blog.
My goal is to capture the experiences of a younger generation of scientists. It is so great to see so many institutions encouraging undergrad research these days. We are all truly grateful for the mentorship we’ve received from graduate students, postdocs, and PIs. :) In addition to my own thoughts, I want to highlight the contributions other undergrads are making in science.
My next post will be about bSMART, the Biological Sciences Methods and Research Teaching Program. Started by Rebecca Liu at Duke this summer, bSMART pairs local high school students with undergrad mentors so that they can get some exposure to the lab environment. The goal is to show high school students that science is fun, exciting, and relevant! I admire my peers for participating in this program and encouraging young students to consider careers in science.
Rebecca Liu, Duke Class of 2010
I hope to share some photos and profiles of the high school students and undergrads who are participating in bSMART in my next post.
Until then, I look forward to getting to know many of you on NN! I hope you enjoy my blog!
I’m sure we will, Trisha, and welcome. You are a young woman after my own heart, as a manner of speaking – I’m a developmental biologist as well and had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Kirby many years ago in Nogent-sur-Marne. I look forward to reading about bSMART.
Hi Trisha, welcome to Nature Network!
Thank you so much for the welcome, Eva! Heather, I just saw that you are a neural crest person!! how exciting! I took an entire class on neural crest with Kathleen Smith this past semester. I loved learning about Le Douarin’s advanced work that she completed so many years ago.
Welcome, Trisha!
Thank you, Cath!
Kristi Vogel is another neural crest person… we’re everywhere!
good to know! thanks!
Welcome to the NN Trisha!
thanks, Caryn!
Welcome to NN, Trisha!
As Heather mentioned, I’m also a neural crest person (“have Slug, will undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition”). I haven’t really ever stopped working on neural crest cells, their derivatives, or their tumors, come to think of it. For some strange reason, the medical students in the Gross Anatomy and Embryology course don’t find neural crest cells as endlessly fascinating as I do.
I look forward to reading your posts!
Welcome to the Triangle – THE science blogging center of the Universe! I’ll see you at the next blog meetup and, of course, at the ScienceOnline’10!
Hi Trisha, welcome!
Welcome to NN Trisha!
Hi Trisha – As you already know Duke is an amazing place (I did my post-doc there; department of medicine) good luck with the blogging here on NN.
Welcome! Don’t worry if some strange people turn up here occasionally. It’s part of NN’s contract with the NIMH.
BTW, I do not and have never worked on neural crests.
Hi Trisha – welcome to the program!
Welcome, Trisha. By the way, we’re all neural-crest people. If we weren’t we’d be amphioxuses.
Bloody pedant.
Without neural crest, you can’t get ahead. You’d also be unsympathetic and insensitive.
I’m looking forward to hearing about your adventures with bSMART. As someone who is considering teaching prep school biology (best to corrupt while they are still young!) this would be something that I would look for in my own corner of the world. Good luck with the story(s).
Oh Kristi and Henry, I am actually laughing quite a bit…nice puns!!! Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!!
I look forward to reading more, and welcome (from another newbie on NN)!
Don’t feed the punsters, Trisha. Nice to see a zfish cardiomyocyte fan here.
thank you, Ken! But Jon, they were so good! ha
Trisha – do as Jon says. Punnage will get out of hand with incredible rapidity in your blog comments if you give NN’ers half a chance.
And what is it with these overachieving Duke students? We had one here last summer and we’re still trying to catch up. ;)
Cheers, and welcome from over here in the non-blogging corner of NN.
Trisha! Say hello to the halls of French Science Center for me. It was not even two months ago that you told me you were wanting to start blogging. I’m so glad to see you here. Listen to Bora and go to the blogging meetups in the Triangle. There’s an insanely high number of science bloggers in the area. They’re a great resource and a lot of fun to hang out with. Welcome!
I’m thinking of getting a neural crest in my coat of arms.
bSMART sounds very interesting.
Yup, there are tons of science bloggers in the area. Watch my blog, mistersugar.com and blogtogether.org and my blog for updates. If you want, I can add your e-mail address to the blogtogether and SCONC mailing lists so you always knows when there is something sciency and bloggy happening in the area. Also check out the Social Carolina calendar and Science In The Triangle website.
Welcome, Trisha, I look forward to reading your blog and learning a bit more about neural crests. From an ex-muscle crossbridge person! All the best, Maxine.
Welcome, Trisha – it’s great to see another student blogger! I look forward to reading your blog.
Welcome Trisha!!! Good luck and read you around!! ;-)
Thank you, Maxine! I just wanted to clarify for everyone: I don’t actually work on neural crests…ha. I took a tutorial class on it during which I read papers with the professor about them…I wanted to work with a professor this summer on neural crest but he told me his lab was already full. :(
Thanks for the welcome, Maria!
I will discourage the punnage when it gets on my nerves…I’m ok right now though!
Also, thank you to Richard…my next post will somewhat address the overachieving nature of students these days….
You are most welcome (for whatever it was). ;)
Hi. I was referred to your blog. I am also from Ann Arbor and doing the Howard Hughes program at Duke this summer (there’s another kid too). You are doing some really awesome things.