Emily Ryan
Year in school:
junior
Major degree program/department:
biology (psychology minor)
Faculty mentor:
Stefan G. Sarafianos, PhD, molecular microbiology and immunology
How did you get involved with undergraduate research?
I discovered an opening in the Sarafianos Laboratory through the Undergraduate Research Job Postings Web site, and was very interested in his laboratory because of its emphasis on HIV research. Then I found out where Dr. Sarafianos's office was located and personally approached him about the position.
On what kind of projects have you worked?
I have been focusing on the mechanism of inhibition of HIV reverse transcriptase by 4’-ethynyl-2’-fluoro deoxyadenosine.
Why is this experience valuable to you?
Research as an undergraduate is a very unique experience that I never imagined possible! Focusing on a project, learning a ton of new information, executing your own experiments, analyzing your results, attending scientific conferences, and making predictions about future directions are tools that will come in handy in any professional career. Also, I have been able to apply my previous knowledge of science to my laboratory work, and my laboratory work has helped me understand concepts in my courses to a fuller extent.
What advice would you offer to other students considering undergraduate research?
Try research out! And don't be afraid of approaching a potential mentor multiple times, hard work and persistence both pay off!
