A Priceless TRIP!! by Abe Eldo

It always amazes me how quickly time can go by when you are working on something you love with amazing people. It feels as if I had just come up with my research question a few days ago. Nonetheless, it is truly inspiring how much everyone in the program has accomplished in the past weeks. 

For those who do not know, my research project sought to determine the effects of Kratom on larval fruit fly brain size. Using a control group and 3 increasing doses, I allowed flies to produce 3rd instar larvae for a week. I then cleaned these larvae and placed them under a microscope for dissection. Although I was skeptical about completing all the dissections in one session at first, I was much more confident after a few days of practice. By the time we started our independent projects, I could dissect three brains for each of the four conditions!

As we quickly approach the final symposium, I am filled with both nerves and excitement. Although I have given presentations in the past, there is always some kind of nervousness associated with speaking to large groups. However, the excitement I feel to hear my peers work trumps almost all nerves. I cannot help having a melancholy mood toward the symposium as well. TRIP has blown all of my expectations away. I am truly grateful to have been able to partake in this program before I leave for college. Everyone I worked with this summer, peers, TA’s, and administrators, are extremely inspiring. I am sure that I would not have gotten this far without each and every one of them. Thank you TRIP and everyone involved for an experience that will stay with me for the rest of my career.