Janerys Rodríguez Montalvo
INTERNSHIP AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
REFLECTION: POST-PRACTICE
The Summer Program for Undergraduate Urology Research (SPUUR) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison proved to be a pivotal point in my academic journey. Focusing on genitourinary development, hormonal influences, and urinary tissue bladder engineering provided an unparalleled opportunity to delve into a field that deeply fascinates me. Witnessing firsthand the intricacies of this research and its potential impact on patient lives solidified my ambition to pursue a career in urology. Beyond the research itself, SPUUR fostered a dynamic learning environment that extended far beyond the lab. Symposia and collaborative events, including jamborees with renowned researchers from institutions like Stanford and Columbia, broadened my perspective on the vastness of urology research and its diverse methodologies.
Within this practice, the procedures I participated in were "Mark, Morphology, and Weight". Some equipment utilized was the scale, towels, Sharpie, personal protection equipment, and charts of MMW ("Mark, Morphology, and Weight"). I was unfamiliar with the MMW charts and how to use them. As every official lab document is particular, I learned that I had to follow it by day, task, and particular rat. The other equipment used for this procedure was pretty mundane and I was familiar with it but not with how they were used. For example, I've never used a Sharpie on a live animal before for identification purposes.
Everything was very new for me, so when I had to do the blood draw procedure, I perceived it as a challenge at first. The equipment utilized was Vaseline, a shaver, a freezer, 20G1-22G1 needles, capillary instruments, cotton balls, hazard bins, and a centrifuge. I've never used these instruments to do this particular procedure in any clinical or research context. Through intensive training, I was able to get certified to do blood extraction on rats to work in the lab. On the other hand, I've seen and heard all of these instruments in clinical settings, but never had the opportunity to use them personally so it was very exhilarating to be a part of an important procedure within this research.
Within PCR, the equipment utilized was a bucket of ice, Sybr Dye (300μL), water(179.1μL), primers for GnRH signaling (0.45μL), tube rack, thermal cycler, and the CFW Maestro software. I was familiar with most of the equipment utilized as I have been able to use them in the college labs, especially in genetics. Some of the equipment I had never heard of before was the software they used to analyze the results obtained in the thermal cycler and the primers for GnRH signaling. In the college lab, the way we interpreted our results was by using gels and the original markers to identify similarities or changes, so, using advanced software was a little overwhelming but after getting the hang of it, it was fun to interpret the data. Finally, every primer in a biology project can differ from others, by using GnRH signaling ones, made me feel very much involved with more specific areas within biology which were physiology and urology.
For behavioral testing, we used an Elevated Plus Maze (EPM). The equipment utilized was a red light, a bucket-pulley system, a chronometer, a T.V. monitor, and EtOH (ethanol). I have never participated in a behavioral test with rats so being able to participate in this was exhilarating and tense. I have never worked with any of the equipment mentioned, so having to be accustomed to it at a fast pace, that I was able to still be a part of the data collection was overwhelming. For example, I have not used a T.V. monitor in years because the combination of a red light that made it difficult for me to see and the bucket pulley system being integrated into a biology project was stressful as well.
My experience in this research program has allowed me to grow academically, professionally, and personally in various aspects. Initially, I was faced with a specialized technical vocabulary that was unfamiliar to me, such as the sex-hormone blocker Leuprolide, CFW Maestro Software to analyze data, and the involvement of behavioral testing like the Elevated Plus Maze. Other unfamiliar concepts were the gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRH); such as FSH (Follicle stimulating hormone), a hormone that helps with egg and sperm development, and LH (luteinizing hormone), a hormone that stimulates sex hormone production. Another hormone is AMH (Anti-Mullerian hormone), a hormone involved in sex organ development. Gonads were another word I was unfamiliar with, which are reproductive glands.
I have heard of upregulation and downregulation in genetics but never understood the concept until I was actively working on it. Now I understand that more copies of a specific gene are amplified in a sample compared to another, which suggests that the gene might be upregulated in that cell sample. Conversely, fewer amplified copies might indicate downregulation. Finally, Sertoli cells which are "sustentacular cells" for sperm. This term emphasizes their role in supporting and maintaining the developing sperm cells. Thanks to the dedication of my mentors and constant exposure to these terms, I have managed to understand and use them fluently in the context of my research.
Laboratory meetings have been a fundamental space for developing my critical analysis and communication skills. In them, I have actively participated in literature reviews, which have allowed me to streamline the analysis of projects related to mine and expand my knowledge of the field of biological research. In addition, I have learned various useful techniques in this field, such as poster-making and oral presentations, which have allowed me to communicate my findings clearly and concisely to a specialized audience. I had the opportunity to apply what I learned in the lab meetings at the Cairibu symposium at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and the O'Brien Medical Center Jamboree. In these, I represented my program with universities such as Columbia and Stanford, which has been an enriching experience that has allowed me to expand my network of contacts and learn about different perspectives on biological research.
These interactions allowed me to engage in stimulating dialogues and learn from some of the brightest minds in the field, further fueling my passion for this specialized area of medicine. Adding a touch of serendipity to the experience, I always idolized the Big Ten association and always dreamed of being a part of it somehow, that was when I realized UW-Madison belonged to it by participating in the "Summer Undergraduate Research Program"! The SPUUR program not only equipped me with valuable research skills and practical knowledge but also strengthened my resolve to pursue a career as a urologist. I am incredibly grateful for the exceptional mentorship I received and the opportunity to participate in such a transformative program.
