By Sarah Fullerton
Digital Communications Specialist
To boost opportunities for undergraduate students to engage in research, the Faculty of Science introduced new funding to support summer research assistantships. As a result, over 50 undergraduates participated in world-renowned research under the guidance of esteemed faculty tackling some of the most complex challenges of our time.
Among these students are Haavia Rajakumar, who is entering her 3A term, and Jessica Lin, who is entering her 4A term, both in the Honours Science program this fall. Rajakumar and Lin have been working in Dr. Natoya Peart’s lab, where they are gaining essential lab skills, and conducting research on RNA-binding proteins.
How did you receive a summer research assistantship?
Haavia:
I have been working as a lab assistant with Dr. Peart over the last year. It started as a casual employment position where I would assist in the lab whenever she needed help with typical lab duties. When Dr. Peart found out about the new funding, she asked if I wanted to take on a larger role within the lab and gain experience this summer in the research being conducted, and that’s how I began working full-time in the lab as a research assistant.
Jessica:
I was taking a full course load this summer and found out about the opportunity to secure part-time research positions through the Work Study program. I was looking for experience within the research field to see what it’s like, and when I discovered a position was open in Dr. Peart’s lab, I applied right away.
Tell us about the research and what you are learning
Haavia:
I’ve been working with ESRP1 (an RNA-binding protein) that controls some alternative splicing processes to diversify gene expression. Through this process, I’ve been learning about various lab techniques, the science behind them, and the underlying theories.
Eventually, we aim to explore the role of ESRP1 in cancer cell lines. We hope to gain insights into how it contributes to different types of cancers. This research is still in the very early stages, and I’m hoping to continue working in the lab throughout my undergraduate degree to see further results.
Jessica:
As a part-time research assistant, I am learning how to prepare the materials needed to conduct experiments. This includes making buffer solutions and setting up titrations. Learning these lab preparation techniques has been essential in providing me with a solid foundation of skills that I will need to participate in lab-based research.
How do you feel you have benefited from being a summer research assistant?
Haavia:
Lectures are great for acquiring knowledge, but lab experiences, like the one I had this summer, are essential for putting that knowledge into practice.
When I started in this role, I had little knowledge of the research we are working on. Stepping into the lab was intimidating at first, but Dr. Peart was open to answering my questions and she has been supportive throughout the learning process. I’ve been torn between pursuing medicine or research, and this summer assistantship has given me the chance to explore whether this is the path I want to follow.
Jessica:
Dr. Peart has been incredibly supportive of my learning in the lab. I had no prior research experience, but she created a comfortable environment for me to develop essential lab skills. This opportunity has allowed me to put my classroom knowledge into practice, providing me with hands-on experience like a co-op, but with a focus on research – an area I’m eager to explore further.
Pursuing research is now on my radar and I’m grateful for this experience because it has helped me acquire the skills I will need to take on research projects in future terms.
