When I was a sophomore, I began doing research under a professor for the first time. At the beginning, I worked with an older student and was tasked with very basic duties. I was eventually taught more advanced techniques and procedures the longer I worked with him, and presented the work at my first conference in 2014 at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at Mankato State University. I switched projects the next year and I worked independently one semester with a professor on a research project studying breast cancer. The next semester, the group expanded to include several other students. I was assigned to be the lead researcher for the project, and was in charge of organizing the team. Each student was assigned to a specific part of the project, and I was there to guide and teach them each step of the way.
Being the lead team researcher was my first experience with overseeing a group of people. At this point in my research, I had done all the procedures and knew the bigger picture. Some days I would work alone, but I often had to teach new techniques to the other students and guide them through the steps of the project. Considering that each student had a different part of the project to work on, I had to utilize my skills in identifying the different roles they played, and then reflect on how they contribute to the project as a whole. This experience also allowed me to reflect on my own personal strengths and weaknesses as a leader. I began to see what kind of approaches worked, and which ones were ineffective.
At the end of the semester, our project was chosen to be presented at three different conferences that year, including the National Conference for Undergraduate Research in Asheville, North Carolina. As team leader, I presented the work all three times. This experience showed me how different parts of a team can work on different things, but can still come together to form one cohesive project. I learned a lot about team dynamics and began to delve into being a leader of a team. Upon reflection, I was able to identify and eliminate my weaknesses as a leader, and amplify my strengths.
Regulation of Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis by Tumor Secreted BMPs
Being the lead team researcher was my first experience with overseeing a group of people. At this point in my research, I had done all the procedures and knew the bigger picture. Some days I would work alone, but I often had to teach new techniques to the other students and guide them through the steps of the project. Considering that each student had a different part of the project to work on, I had to utilize my skills in identifying the different roles they played, and then reflect on how they contribute to the project as a whole. This experience also allowed me to reflect on my own personal strengths and weaknesses as a leader. I began to see what kind of approaches worked, and which ones were ineffective.
At the end of the semester, our project was chosen to be presented at three different conferences that year, including the National Conference for Undergraduate Research in Asheville, North Carolina. As team leader, I presented the work all three times. This experience showed me how different parts of a team can work on different things, but can still come together to form one cohesive project. I learned a lot about team dynamics and began to delve into being a leader of a team. Upon reflection, I was able to identify and eliminate my weaknesses as a leader, and amplify my strengths.
Regulation of Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis by Tumor Secreted BMPs