Researching Tumor Genesis via Fruit Flies

I interned at UCONN Health in the Department of Cellular Biology, where our focus was on understanding fundamental biological processes at the molecular and cellular levels across various life domains.​

During my summer research internship, I worked extensively with Drosophila, which possess 90% of human cancer-causing genes. My primary project centered on tumor genesis and investigating why STAT, a crucial factor in Drosophila GSC mitosis, is highly expressed in tumor cells. I gained proficiency in fly dissection, cell staining, and the use of confocal microscopes for laser imaging.​

​Projects:​

Regulation of stem-gene loci during tumorigenesis: Employed qPCRs and oligopaints to explore​ the reasons behind the abundance of STAT loci in tumor cells.​

Recording recovery assay using genes essential for dedifferentiation: Conducted imaging of the niche and surrounding germ-line stem cells to track their dedifferentiation in response to heat shock, aiming to elucidate the roles of critical dedifferentiation genes.​​

This experience taught me to effectively utilize available resources. The collaborative environment in the lab fostered continuous learning, with frequent exchanges of questions and experiences that enhanced our techniques and ideas.​

Moreover, the internship sparked my keen interest in cellular biology and understanding underlying biological mechanisms. Before this opportunity, I hadn't considered a career in research. My lab skills significantly improved, reducing the occurrence of technique errors that could skew results in class labs.​ Overall, collaborating with such bright minds and engaging in hands-on learning made this​ experience both enlightening and enjoyable.

Internship funded by the Peter Buck Internship Fund​.