A Little Blurb About Me Jackson Barlow

Hi Everyone! My name is Jackson Barlow, and I am a senior at William Tennent High School. Next year, I plan on pursuing a biology degree from either Clemson University, The University of Pittsburgh, or Penn State University. I'm still trying to figure out which institution is the right fit for me. For my future plans past college, I hope to become a medical researcher that will one day find a treatment or a cure for some medical condition or disease; I am unsure what specifically I want to specialize in, but I have a lot of time to figure that out. I decided to apply to TRIP to gain valuable lab experience and to build relationships with experts and people interested in STEM and research like myself that will benefit me in my immediate and distant future.

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At Tennent, music is a huge part of my life. From grades 9-12, I have played trumpet, french horn, and mellophone in various ensembles, ranging from the Wind Ensemble, the Marching Band, and our award-winning and state recognized Jazz Ensemble. AIso at Tennent, I’m involved in various clubs and honors societies such as National Honors Society, Science National Honors Society (SNHS), Civitas -- the Social Studies Honors Society where I act as treasurer --, English National Honors Society (NEHS), Key Club, Student Government, and The Health Science Exploration Club. I also serve as a TA for AP Biology, which quickly became my favorite class I’ve ever taken last year. 

Outside of school, I volunteer at Royce’s Rescue, an animal shelter for stray and abandoned cats and horse stables in Richboro, Pennsylvania, every Tuesday. At Royce’s, I refill food and water, clean litter boxes, wash dishes, straighten up cages, and overall clean and provide a tidy environment for about fifteen to twenty-five cats, depending on the week. Moreover, I also work at Wegmans Food Markets as a cashier and self-checkout attendant where I’m constantly communicating with people. An additional fun fact about me is that I did karate for seven years and obtained a black belt in MMA.

Following my first day at TRIP, I tightened up on my micropipetting and fly food making skills. I was also assigned my introductory project and the question that is attached: Does head trauma impact adult fly motility?  I have introduced the drug melatonin into the food of two vials of flies. By doing this, I hope to see some correlation between melatonin and its effects on head trauma. As someone that has experienced two concussions personally, I hope to unravel data that can help explain how to treat a concussion.