An Introduction By Emily Shang

Hi! My name is Emily Shang and I will be a sophomore at Lower Merion High School. Just a little bit about myself: I harbor a huge love for science, Netflix, traveling, and sports. I play volleyball and fence, but watch most other sports. I have been fencing for 6 years, and find that it is one of my favorite recreational activities (I mean playing with swords… what’s not to like?). Playing volleyball is also another love of mine, despite my height putting me at a slight disadvantage (but no worries, I’m optimistic I’ll grow another 6 inches :))

When I’m not at fencing or volleyball practice, I am always watching Netflix, and jumping from show to show everytime Netflix suggests something new to me. Though I’ve seen most of the more popular shows, some of my favorites are the Office, Grey’s Anatomy, How I Met Your Mother (*cries because it’s not on Netflix anymore*), and Friends. Other than Netflix and sports, I enjoy spending time traveling with my family. In total, we’ve hit over 20 different countries, and hope to travel to more. My favorite part of traveling is experiencing the different cultures and ideals of the place, and marveling on how a few miles and an ocean can make such a difference.
Being in TRIP only a short time now, one of my favorite things is meeting all these people whom I can learn from, and share passions with. I enjoy learning how to use lab equipment, and how to craft experiments and execute them. I love how everyone is so eager to help if you ask. I also particularly appreciate collaborating on assignments with everyone else. I’m currently doing research on the effects of Black Cohosh, a drug used to treat the effects of menopause and act as a substitute for estrogen, on fly fertility when a heat stressor is applied. We’re learning so much from the basics of micropipetting to conversions to performing a fertility assay. Despite all we have learned so far, my journey with TRIP is just beginning, and I can’t wait see where it takes me!