Interviews with Researchers

JENNA CAIN ‘23

Once their project is concluded, they both plan to pursue similar topics to one another. Marley hopes to focus her research towards the medical aspect of science and connect with clinical trials while Aine would also like to explore research in medicine, specifically cancer research. One of the best features of the program is the flexibility of what topics one can study, and according to Marley and Aine, that was a major factor in their decisions to join the class. “What interested us most about the Science Research program was the opportunity to explore all different topics that interest us. We have the chance to choose what interests us, and we get to expand our knowledge through research”.

Some advice they have for incoming or interested students: “The best advice we can give is to explore whatever you are passionate about. We have been told by upperclassmen that exploring a multitude of interests is what helps you to discover what you are truly passionate about”. Both Marley and Aine have done amazing work in just their first year from delivering presentations to conducting research, and they have developed foundational skills which will help them in the next couple of years in the program. They said: “The best skills we’ve learned so far are the ability to collaborate and work as a team and identifying the best methods for research. This program has also taught us the most efficient ways to break down a research paper to analyze it.” They have also been able to transfer the skills they have learned to other classes: “Learning how to write a research proposal has been very beneficial to our work in other classes. Knowing how to conduct research and come up with your own topics is an important skill to have in any science class.”

Juliette Thomas, Nora Fodero, Madeline Bohan & Sophiana Simone

biological species. It works by analyzing a specific region of DNA. Then, the sequence of this DNA barcode is compared to a reference library which contains information of many different species. As we collect the samples, we will use an air quality monitor to measure pollution in the air. Using this information, we will be able to see the effect that air pollution has on the effect of lichen biodiversity.

What gave you this idea?

project got accepted!

If you could describe your experience in science research so far in five words, what would they be?

Madeline: insightful, eye opening, hard work, enriching, and interactive.

Sophiana: inspiring, breathtaking, broadening, educative, and captivating.

What are you looking forward to most as you continue in the Science Research program?

Can you describe your project?

Our project is DNA barcoding samples of lichen from two separate areas in Westchester county: Teatown Lake Reservation and the trail along the Bronx River Parkway. DNA barcoding is a method used to identify

After traveling to the Regeneron DNA Learning Center, where we participated in a DNA Barcoding lab in May 2022, the class was hit with inspiration. We decided to submit proposals to the Urban Barcoding Project (UBP) of the New York City organization. We worked very hard on a proposal regarding the barcoding of different lichen species from different areas, and our

Sophiana: I am looking forward to being able to learn and grow from this program through the resources it provides. I am looking to improve skills that I can take with me all the way to college. This program offers the tools needed to be able to find where my interests lie, and I am excited to be able to find that passion and research it.

Can you describe your project?

Our project is studying the biodiversity of mushrooms in the Rockefeller State Park Preserve, which we plan to do through the use of DNA barcoding. Many people don’t realize how vital mushrooms are to ecosystems, and by studying the different species in our area, we can possibly discover the effects that they have on our environment and the organisms around us. Identifying the species of mushrooms around us will also let us know if there are any of the species that are edible or have medicinal properties.

What gave you this idea?

We chose mushrooms for our DNA barcoding project because we had to find an organism that lives between the months of January and April which are our time constraints for this project. After coming up with various ideas, we settled on the biodiversity of mushrooms because of their abundance in our area and their ability to survive in the winter season.

Have you run into any challenges so far?

A problem we ran into was finding species of mushrooms that flourish during the winter. However, we were able to successfully find mushroom species that flourish in winter and grow in Westchester county. A problem we foresee running into in the future is actually finding the mushrooms that we read about.

If you could describe your experience in science research so far in five words, what would they be?

Isabella: challenging, intriguing, enlightening, encouraging, worthwhile

Anjali: captivating, difficult, educational, thought-provoking, enjoyable

What are you looking forward to most as you continue in the Science Research program?

Anjali: As I continue in the Science Research program, I am most looking forward to conducting research with a mentor. I’m excited to get hands-on experience in a lab and be exposed to different realms of science. Through this research, I hope to find the topic of science that I am interested in and possibly want to pursue in the future. I eventually hope to contribute to scientific developments that benefit the world. The research program is connecting with the Ursuline alumnae network to find connections to a mentor which I look forward to.

Isabella: As I continue in the Science Research program, I look forward to obtaining a mentor. I look forward to conducting my own research alongside my mentor and competing in competitions with my own research. I hope that working with a mentor will provide me with hands-on experience in a lab and aid me furthering my scientific career.