Alexis Scott
I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to do research in Dr. Shi-You Ding’s lab this summer! Through my time as an undergraduate researcher at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, I have grown both socially and professionally. Going into the program, I wasn’t sure what to expect, as I had limited research experience at the time. Now, I feel confident in my ability to do science and to share my knowledge with others.
I first found out about GLBRC basically through Google. I was interested in bioenergy research because it encompasses many areas that are of interest to me. As a student at Dickinson College, I was enlightened to the importance of sustainability. And since I am a biochemistry and molecular biology major, bioenergy research presented an opportunity to engage in science that is meaningful and allowed me to make connections between the lab and my studies.
My mentor, Cynthia Collings, guided me every step of the way through my project. I was able to use high-tech imaging techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of a biomass pretreatment. The techniques that I used this summer were fascinating and really opened me eyes to how amazing biological imaging is. I really began to feel at home in the lab and am now much more confident in a laboratory environment. As I share my experiences with my friends and professors at Dickinson, I feel proud to speak about my summer experience.