Hi everyone!
I decided to write a blog to document my experiences this summer in California, where I'm participating in a research program in the life sciences called the Amgen Scholars Program at the University of California, Berkeley. Everyday I'm going to be researching in a faculty mentor's lab, attending workshops and seminars, and working on creating a poster and oral presentation, but I'll hopefully have time to have some fun, as well!
I know who my faculty mentor is and what my project will be about, and although I won't go into the details, it involves yeast genomics and evolution... not a subject I'm very familiar with at the moment! My research project looks very difficult but I know I'll learn so much that will be applicable to my future research at Mizzou and in graduate school. I'm super nervous... but excited, too!
Even though I'll be working all week, I know of a few fun events that I get to do already and I'm sure there will be many more. In June, all of the scholars are going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Santa Cruz boardwalk, and in July I'm going to the Paul McCartney concert in San Francisco (ahh!!!). There are tons of other things to do in Berkeley and in San Francisco, but frankly, I was so busy with school that I didn't have much time to think about this summer beforehand and plan out my trip! I know that everyday will be new and exciting, and I'm quite positive that I'll have the chance to stroll down Telegraph Avenue, take a hike at Muir Woods, ride a boat over to Alcatraz, and experience tourism at its fullest at Fisherman's Wharf.
California is quickly approaching; I depart on May 30th for San Francisco and already have so much planned for the first week: 2 orientations, a picnic, a workshop, a GRE prep course, and, of course, starting work in my lab immediately. Although this summer is going to be crazy, tiring, and so challenging, I'm so excited to experience a million new things in a whole new part of the country and share everything with all of you! I'll be posting more blogs about all of my adventures (pictures included!) as the summer continues, and hopefully I'll have a lot to talk about!
