I liked learning and being able to use all of the different methodologies necessary for studying spinal cord injury. The working environment was very supportive and it was wonderful to be a part of the NSF Neuroscience REU consortium. I gained a lot of experience not only in the lab, but with professional development, preparing for graduate school, and presenting findings.
What I wish was different
Even though my research experience was one of the longer programs available over the summer, I wish we had more time to work before presenting to the consortium. That being said, I am continuing this research into the semester and will be presenting both internally at Earlham and at regional and national conferences.
Advice
I think the key to having this be an effective experience is starting off with open communication between labmates and PIs. It is important to have a solid foundation in order to get the most out of what you are doing and go on to share any results.
