Isabella AugustineBiological Sciences Senior Hello! This semester, I am assisting in a research project with the Urban Lab in the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. The project is titled “Genetics of Extracellular Matrix in Health and Disease”. The project is focused on fibulin-5 (Flbn5) which is a component of elastic fibers in the extracellular matrix of connective tissue. The Urban Lab has a well-developed flbn5-/- zebrafish line, in which the homozygous recessive fish display decreased survival compared to wildtype and heterozygous fish. This zebrafish model emulates a rare human genetic disorder called Cutis Laxa (CL). There are only approximately 400 reported familial cases of CL in the world. CL is characterized by defective connective tissue, resulting in elastic, “droopy” looking skin. Other symptoms of the disease include emphysema, lung infections, and hernias. There is currently no cure or treatment for CL itself, there are only treatments for the manifestations of the disease, such as hernia surgeries and echocardiograms. My job duties as an undergraduate researcher include extracting zebrafish DNA, performing PCR amplification and gel electrophoresis, and genotyping gel images. I really enjoy working on this project because it gives me experience setting up experiments and following protocols and guidelines. I have never had the chance to work with animals in a lab setting before, so this has been a new and exciting opportunity for me. If this blog sounded interesting to you, I would definitely consider getting involved in some research during your time here at Pitt. It’s a great opportunity, and you will definitely learn a lot by performing hands on tasks. You will also meet a ton of new people, which is great for networking and letters of recommendation! There are multiple resources for you to find research positions. Many students find research positions by reading about labs that interest them in the Department of Biological Sciences (or other departments/schools) and then email the PIs directly. You can also check the Biological Sciences Advising Newsletter. Another option is applying for research fellowships. The deadlines for summer research fellowships at Pitt and at other schools have mostly passed, but these are good options to look into for next summer. If you want more advice regarding gaining research experience, visit the Office of Undergraduate Research, or come to any of your Biology Peer Advisors’ office hours. Colton & Yogi: Mondays from 10-11 Nora & Parker: Mondays from 2-3 Kristen & Lisa: Tuesdays from 4-5 Julia & Sofie: Wednesdays from 9-10 Isabella & Owen: Fridays from 3-4
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January 2022
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