A TRIP Worth Taking: From Flies to Findings by Duru Develioglu

Summer TRIP was truly an amazing experience. I learned a great deal from working in the lab and interacting with my peers, teaching assistants, and program instructor, who made the program both informative and enjoyable. The guest speakers also shed light on the numerous career paths available at Fox Chase. In the lab, I learned a lot while completing different assays. The fertility assay taught me how to identify embryos, whether they were hatched or unhatched, and how to carefully calibrate the microscope. The centrophobism assay taught me to pay great attention to detail when defining the borders of each plate, and although it was meticulous work, it made data collection easy. The negative geotaxis assay required a constant routine, and it was important to make sure that I tapped each one of the tubes three times, and waited exactly three seconds before I took a photo to ensure that all the tubes received the same treatment. The assays themselves did not pose much of a challenge, but at times—such as when I couldn't determine the gender of a fly or identify whether or not an embryo had hatched—it was essential to ask for help. 
The instruction leading up to the assays was also excellent because of the demos our fantastic teaching assistants provided before our tests. It was helpful to not only read about the assay and its protocols in our instruction packets, but also to see how it was done by those who had performed the tests before us. 

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One of the highlights of the program was the career talks. The Fox Chase Staff led engaging presentations that not only told us about them, but they also showed genuine interest in our experiences and goals. This level of personal engagement with us made the talks very intriguing. Specifically, they shared the lessons they learned in their careers, which were also applicable to us as we move forward in our scientific journeys. One memorable piece of advice came from Joshua Lahav, who emphasized the importance of finding a mentor whom you can look up to and call upon for advice, regardless of whether they work in the future field you are interested in. I know the importance of having people by your side through challenges, and his words resonated with me. Many of the talks struck a chord with me, but among them, I greatly appreciated Mr. Lahav, Dr. Purdy, and Dr. Patterson’s talks. Mr. Lahav shared many lessons that are important to carry with us. Dr. Purdy discussed her own experience and how she learned more about different fields in science before finding her true passion. Lastly, Dr. Patterson’s talk informed me of the amazing work they do with model organisms, specifically mice.

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I enjoyed the lab part of the program the most. In the lab, I was able to work with different scientific instruments, learn new techniques, and conduct assays using different methods. This was a transformational experience that reinforced my interest in science and scientific research. Conducting, analyzing, and presenting my research was a vital experience in my scientific journey. Heading into my junior year, I feel even more driven to learn as much as I can about science—specifically neurology—a field I am passionate about. I researched the effects of ginkgo biloba and head trauma on fruit flies. Although my data led me to a conclusion contrary to what I had initially hypothesized, my results just made me more curious to see what more trials and replicates could reveal. I am grateful for this opportunity and for the effort and organization that went into creating this program. It truly has been an invaluable experience in my path towards becoming a medical professional.

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