Blog Archives

A Quick TRIP Through My Life! by Saanvi Gupta

3/14/2022

Hello! My name is Saanvi Gupta, and I am a junior at Downingtown East High School. My parents immigrated from India to the United States in 2004. A year after, I was born in New Jersey, after which we moved to Connecticut and then here, in Pennsylvania. I currently live in Chester Springs, a small suburb just outside of Philadelphia, with my parents and puppy Chikoo.

I applied to TRIP to further my interests in medical research and gain exposure to laboratory work while also meeting students that would willingly give up 12 Saturdays to do the same. With a large fascination with women’s health and previous research experiences in breast cancer diagnostics and global views on menopause, I am excited to see where TRIP takes me next. So far, I have learned how to use pipets, pipettes, and micropipettes (yes, they are all different), made fruit fly food, performed dilution problems, and now have fruit flies living in my bedroom! For my upcoming project, I am going to study how fenugreek (a plant that I have eaten growing up) and a high sugar diet will impact female fruit fly fertility. As someone who wishes to build a career around women’s health research and medicine, I am ecstatic about my upcoming journey in TRIP and will most definitely cherish this amazing experience.

At school, I am heavily invested in anything and everything science and math-related. I currently serve as the President-in-Training for my school’s TSA (Technology Student Association) chapter and compete as part of my school’s Academic/Quizbowl Team and HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America). I also created a Math Tutoring program for my school district which enables high school students to tutor other students across the 16 schools in Downingtown Area School District. Additionally, I am a Charity Chair of the Student Council; my main job is to organize Mr. East, an annual senior boy’s beauty pageant that raises money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (this year, we raised over $4000). Outside of school, I used to compete and now mentor in VEX Robotics and volunteer as part of the Shakti Foundation, a local volunteering group that promotes Indian heritage and culture. I also love dancing and choreographing in Hip-Hop and Bollywood styles and playing Just Dance - it’s a great stress relief!

Fly Through a TRIP of My Life by Niki Wang

3/13/2022

Hi everyone! My name is Niki Wang and I’m currently a freshman at William Tennent. Throughout my childhood, I’ve moved to numerous places before settling in Warminster, Pennsylvania. I’ve lived in North Carolina, Virginia, New York, and a year or so in China. I don’t have many memories of when I lived in China since I was only two, but the lingering memories still draw me to my parents’ home country.

In school, I am the president of the 9th Grade Class in Student Government, a member of Key Club, Athletic Council, and the Spanish Club (also known as Aqui Para Ti Club). In the Student Government and Athletic Council, other members and I are able to identify problems in our school and seek reforms, allowing students to make an impact. In Key Club, we organize events and hold fundraisers for school events or even for a blood drive. Now, with the Spanish Club, even though I don’t speak Spanish and am not of hispanic descent, I chose to join this out of my curiosity of the hispanic culture. This club is specifically made for hispanic students who struggle with English, but it welcomes many others to make a diverse community. As you can see, all of these extracurricular activities connect me with others, either in school or outside, and really allow me to influence many individuals - either a student, an athlete, or a patient.

Outside of school, I mostly work, work, and work. My parents own a Chinese and Japanese restaurant called Stone Wok, and I work part-time there every day except Tuesdays (our only day off of the week). There, I’m qualified for many roles. I’m the assistant manager, but when needed, I also do waitressing, cashiering, packing, or hosting. I got this position not just because I was the daughter of the owners, but because I’ve seen how a restaurant operates ever since I was 4 and have 3 years of experience. Now you might be wondering, “How the heck did she observe a restaurant for over 10 years?”. Well, it’s actually not uncommon for many 1st generation children of Chinese immigrants to experience something like this. When our parents immigrated to the United States, they often opened up a restaurant if they had the money, and put a lot - and I mean a lot - of time and energy into the restaurant. This leaves very little time for them to take care of their children, so we either get taken care of by our grandparents, or stay at the restaurant with our parents. In my case, I stayed with my grandparents in China for around a year, and moved back to the U.S. when I was almost 4. It was only a matter of time I did because I had to learn English and get prepared for school in the U.S. As a result, I also got to observe the operation of a restaurant and learn all the responsibilities of each restaurant position.

Years went on and I started to get increasingly bored since I was very limited to what I could do in elementary school (they barely had any clubs) and parts of middle school because of the pandemic. Once I reached high school though, I was exposed to so many opportunities and activities. I wanted to join all of them and experience the most I could during my high school years (hence, the reason why I have joined 4 clubs). I also fell in love with the STEM field, especially the science aspect of it. My English teacher probably saw my potential and interest, so he introduced me to this amazing program called TRIP. Later that day, I read through the information and realized this program really aligned with my interests. I applied, made it, and am incredibly happy to have made this decision. Yesterday was my only first day of TRIP but I’ve already learned so much. From diluting solutions and micropipetting to making fly food, I loved it all. What I hope to build and learn from TRIP is my knowledge and skill. What I hope to narrow down and identify from TRIP is my career interest. I believe TRIP will help me hugely in those ways and continue to impact me even after this experience is over. Right now I’m itching to go back next week and start hands-on work with fruit flies. In the meantime, I’ll continue observing the fruit flies in the vial I received on the first day of TRIP and complete any assigned work in Schoology!

TRIPs to Target by Mahi Patel

3/13/2022

Hey, hey everyone! Over the past 6 weeks, I have become incredibly well acquainted with fruit flies. So far, I learned how to distinguish between male and female flies, changing the diet of the flies, and how to test for various behaviors. For my introductory experiment, I focused on the effect of valerian and a high sugar diet on the anxiety/fitness of the fruit flies. Although my results were not what I hypothesized, I became hooked on the phenomenon of stress and anxiety with fruit flies.

My independent project was actually inspired by my frequent “therapy walks” through Target. Whenever I am having a bad day or just need to clear my head, I aimlessly roam around Target - it is my therapy. As a junior in high school, there are definitely a lot of these kinds of days being that there are nights I do not get a full 8 hours of sleep.

One day, while I was walking through the pharmacy aisles, I noticed vibrant, eye-catching bottles of vitamins called “Olly.” Specifically, there was one type, “Goodbye Stress,” that really piqued my interest. Thus, for my independent project, I opted to test the effect of Olly Anti-Stress Vitamins on fruit flies who have been exposed to constant light. Over the next couple of weeks, I will be conducting the Open Field and Social Space Tests to assess how the Olly: GoodBye Stress Vitamins impact stressed flies.

I cannot wait to share my findings with you all in Blog 3!

Flying Through My First Weeks at TRIP! by Diya Parekh

3/13/2022

The first half of TRIP has flown by (pun intended)! I have learned so much about the research process and how to collect and present data over the past five weeks, and now I finally get to put my skills to the test. With some time and careful consideration, I have been able to craft my own experimental question and design.

How does licorice root extract consumption affect the health of developing individuals? Are larvae whose mothers consumed licorice less mobile?...

In my AP Psychology class, we were learning about development– specifically substances that could harm unborn babies, called teratogens. While drugs, tobacco, and alcohol are the obvious teratogens that come to mind, a particular substance fascinated me the most: licorice. After conducting some more research, I found out that mothers who consume a large amount of licorice while pregnant had children with health complications. This led me to decide my experimental question: “How does licorice root extract consumption affect the health of developing individuals? Are larvae whose mothers consumed licorice less mobile?” Through testing this with several doses of licorice, I hope to find out if licorice really does have detrimental effects on the health of the offspring of fruit flies.

Going through the experimental design process for my own project has definitely been a struggle at times, but a fun challenge to work through. The hardest part for me so far has been doing all of the drug calculations– especially working through all of the impossibly tiny numbers! Luckily, talking through the math with Dr. Purdy and Dr. Leystra has been extremely helpful. I am also getting great time management skills through figuring out how much time I need to spend on each task and if I’m setting myself up to do too much or not enough.

I have had an amazing time at TRIP so far, and I am looking forward to moving on to the second half with all of my new friends, lovely TAs, and amazing instructors!

Glucose and the Flies by Matthew Uppani

3/13/2022

Hi friends! It’s hard to believe that we are in Week 6. I have learned so much in the lab and completed my introductory experiment on the impact of black cohosh on female fertility. I have now become faster at sorting flies. Now, I’m one week into my independent research project and the lab is getting more interesting and I have made new friends

For my independent project, I’m researching the impact of Atorvastatin, a cholesterol lowering drug, on blood sugar level.

For my independent project, I’m researching the impact of Atorvastatin, a cholesterol lowering drug, on blood sugar level. My father started taking Atorvastatin a couple of years ago to lower his cholesterol, and he noticed an increase in his blood sugar levels (A1C test). So, I am curious to see if his elevated glucose level has anything to do with Atorvastatin or just a coincidence. Also, I learned from my parents that fenugreek (a spice used in Indian cooking) has the potential to lower blood sugar. I think it would be interesting to see if Atorvastatin and fenugreek have any kind of effects on blood sugar by testing the same conditions on my flies by analyzing the glucose in their hemolymph. I would be addressing the questions: How is fruit fly glucose level affected by Atorvastatin and fenugreek? Does Atorvastatin raise glucose in flies? Does fenugreek lower the elevated glucose in flies?

Now the most interesting part for the next couple of weeks is beheading the flies! As the flies are too tiny, I am not sure how I can cut the heads off. The glucose assay indirectly measures glucose metabolism by measuring the absorption of light in a pink-colored solution in a spectrophotometer. If the heads are not removed, the pigment would mess up the data as the eyes of fruit flies are red. But my flies have white eyes because they are mutants and way cooler than normal flies. I can't wait to see how the results turn out. I’m excited for the weeks to come; I’ll see you in the next blog!

Time Flies by Saanvi Gupta

3/13/2022

Hello, again!! Last time you met me, I had just started the TRIP journey, and now, I am already (sadly) halfway through. Over the past few weeks, I had been working on my initial project in which I studied how fenugreek and a high sugar diet impact female fertility. I conducted the female fertility assay, which allows a researcher to quantify the number of embryos laid by the female flies in a specific time period (I used a 2 hour incubation period). I absolutely enjoyed looking at the embryos under the microscope and using the data I collected to analyze and draw conclusions. My findings contradicted what I initially hypothesized; I thought that because a high sugar diet is directly correlated to lower fertility levels in women, it had to lead to lower fertility levels in the flies as well. However, to my surprise, I was wrong! The high sugar diet improved fertility rates in the flies. After further research and talking with Dr. Purdy and Dr. Leystra, I realized that sugar provides more calories to the female flies, improving fertility. This discovery challenged me to change my perspective and start looking at science from different perspectives. In other words, the answer is never straightforward - there are many factors and variables that a researcher needs to account for.

On to the most exciting part: my independent project! While brainstorming possible project ideas, I knew that I wanted mine to focus on female fertility due to my interest in women’s health. Infertility is a widespread concern in women worldwide; in the United States, about 1 in 10 women face fertility problems. For my independent research project, I am studying the impact of three infertility medications and seeing which, either alone or in combination with each other, has the most beneficial results in regards to female fertility. My first drug is Metformin; although generally prescribed to diabetic patients, Metformin is also used to treat infertility in PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) patients. The next two are over-the-counter medications used to boost female fertility - Maca and Vitex. After much discussion with my TRIP peers, TA’s, and, of course, Dr. Purdy and Dr. Leystra, I was able to make a plan for the next few weeks that will help my experiment come to life.

I am truly eager to come each Saturday morning and work on my experiment. This lab experience has taught me so much, and I can already see the improvement. On the first-day sorting flies, I accidentally opened a vial and released 60 flies into the lab room (oops!). Just yesterday, however, I was able to sort 480 flies in about 2 hours without losing a single one. Not only am I excited to see the results of my experiment, but I am also looking forward to seeing the progress of my talented peers that makes TRIP even more inspiring. Until next time!

Can a Boost of Energy Boost Your Mind? by Shakira Ali

3/13/2022

Hi! It’s crazy how much has happened at TRIP so far. As we already learned several skills and techniques so far into the program like collecting and analyzing data and presenting our information to the scientific community, it’s time to start our independent projects! It took me quite a while to determine what I wanted to test on the Drosophila Melanogaster (the fruit fly), but I knew that whatever topic I would pick, it would be because of problems relating to humans. Many college students, like my sister, have become dependent on caffeine sourced products like energy drinks, specifically the trending new drink Celsius, to improve their focus and cognitive functions. However, I’ve always wondered if the short-term boost of energy drinks actually have a positive effect on memory and development. At the same time, sleep-regulating drugs like Melatonin have had both positive and negative cognitive side effects, with many being able to focus better but for others, it makes it difficult to remember certain things. That led me thinking with several questions in mind: How is fly memory and cognitive functions affected by Celsius (energy drink) and melatonin? Does Celsius amplify a fly’s ability to remember and learn and does consuming the recommended dosage of Melatonin cloud memory?

If flies are exposed to both Celsius and melatonin, will the effects of the Celsius be reversed by the effects of melatonin and have an improvement in cognitive function and memory?

After I developed questions and formulated a topic I was interested in, I realized I wanted to use the larval memory assay, which measures the cognitive functions of a fruitful larva. I began to dive into the work of experimental design and calculating drug stocks. Using the mass of an average male human and the wet mass of a fruit fly with the recommended amount of Celsius and melatonin, I was able to calculate how much of each substance was to be added into my fly food. The math was definitely a challenge and I was pretty confused with all the small numbers and steps, but with the help of Dr. Leystra and Dr. Purdy, as well as many of the new friends I made here at TRIP, I was able to calculate the necessary amount and easily made the drug stocks using micropipettes and other materials. Though I spend about 4 hours every Saturday, I’ve realized over the past couple of weeks here at TRIP, that time goes by so fast! The people I am with are very supportive and give great advice. They will help you sort flies, grab materials, and double check your drug calculations. I’m so excited to see how my experiment turns out and if the results are similar to my predictions! I look forward to spending more time with my friends and my TRIP family. Thank you for taking the time to read about my experiences here at TRIP and I hope to keep you guys updated on my findings!

TRIP Into My Life by Sameeksha Panda

3/12/2022

Salutations to whoever may be reading this! My name is Sameeksha Panda, and as one of the newest members of TRIP, I can’t wait to tell you all about me.

I am a current junior at Methacton High School, where I am vice president of the Science Fair Team and Biology Olympiad, as well as participating in the Medicine & Science Club. I love to be involved in school (known as my favorite place in the world) as a peer tutor, student ambassador, and newspaper writer. Of course, my interests extend out of school, such as my 10-year passion for dance and my obsession for reading, which even led to me creating my own reading program, One Book At A Time. In my free time, I’ll either be singing, dreaming of places to travel (I have a slight goal of seeing every country in the world), or volunteering at the local soup kitchen.

Science has always been a curiosity to me-how can even the smallest atom have so many different components to it, from protons to neutrons and even electrons? No matter what branch of science it is, the amount of things waiting to be discovered within every field of science has always attracted the naturally inquisitive me to it. It’s the perfect field for me, where I can learn something new every day that may change the world, or even just one atom of it.

At TRIP, I’ve already begun my scientific journey of learning; I’ve learned both the basics of micropipetting and making fly vials, as well as the developmental cycle of the Drosophila melanogaster (more commonly known as the fruit fly). I decided to join TRIP because of my passion for science research and hands-on lab experience, and so far, it has surpassed all of my expectations. I can’t wait to see where the new few months will take me as I embark on my TRIP journey!

The Beginning on An Exciting TRIP! by Matthew Uppani

3/11/2022

Hi! My name is Matthew Uppani, and I am currently in my first week of TRIP. I am a Junior at Methacton High School, and I am involved in various clubs. I am an officer of the school Science Fair club, an active member of the Electric Car Club, an active member of the Medicine and Science Club, an NHS member, and a Student Ambassador. Also, I play tennis for the school team, and I hold Taekwondo Black Belt. My favorite science subjects in school are Chemistry and Biology. Apart from my love of science, I have a passion to serve my community. I volunteer at my church and non-profit organizations such as Mitzvah Circle, and Manna on Main Street on a regular basis. In my free time, I play piano, watch comedy/action/adventure movies, ride my bike, and read mystery books. Furthermore, I enjoy traveling to different places like Europe and Asia. Every year, my family and I travel to India to visit my grandparents. Staying with them opens my eyes to new and memorable experiences, such as traveling through a river on a houseboat watching kingfishers fly about or visiting the vast, scenic tea estates.

I have always been interested in medicine and science. The thought that I could discover something new through research is amazing. Since my middle school days, I have frequently involved myself with science fair projects. However, my research exposure was limited to the school lab and online research programs. I wanted to join TRIP because hands-on research provides deeper understanding. I am very excited to be a part of the TRIP program and to learn more about the research design, hands-on experiments including data collection and analysis, presentation of findings, and real-world application of the experiment. The fact that the fruit fly research results can be applied to human research is truly remarkable, and the applications of this research are unlimited. In the future, I aspire to pursue a career in the medical field, so being a part of TRIP will give me insight into the research side of medicine and health. I am also excited to create new relationships with people who share similar interests and passions. I am looking forward to the weeks to come as I begin a challenging, but exceptionally promising journey with TRIP.

In the future, I aspire to pursue a career in the medical field, so being a part of TRIP will give me insight into the research side of medicine and health.

Beginning my TRIP Career by Naz Atabas

3/10/2022

Hi Friends! I’m Naz Atabas, and am a sophomore at Abington Friends School. I was born in Langhorne, Pennsylvania but I am a first generation immigrant from Turkey. I love to connect with my culture and visit my family in Turkey over summer. At school, I am a co-clerk of MENA (Middle Eastern North African) affinity group. I play soccer and run track and field for AFS athletics. I also am involved in Community Service Council and Book Club at school. As you can probably tell, I spend a majority of my week on campus. In my freetime I like to bake, read, and hangout with my friends. I am involved in TRIP because I want to learn more about the STEM field as I am very interested in science. At home, I like to conduct small science experiments and analyze the results. I hope to learn a lot more about biology, chemistry, and other sciences here at TRIP. I look forward to meeting you all soon!

I first started becoming interested in science when I was around ten years old. My parents got my brother and I chickens to take care of. At the time, I did not know this would be the beginning of my science career. I started observing the chickens and learning how they communicate, lay eggs, socialize, eat, etc. I spent a lot of time with my chickens and learned a lot about their egg cycle, fertilization, etc. This “experiment” led me to realize I really did have a liking for science, and therefore started to become more intrigued. When I found out about this program I was beyond excited to join and follow through with my interests.

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