Getting Started...by Kaeli Kaymak-Loveless

Hi! My name is Kaeli Kaymak-Loveless, and I'm a sophomore at Unionville High School. Ever since I was a little girl, I've been extremely curious; I'm always searching for concrete explanations for events in my life (in fact, my mother has told me that I wasn't traditionally cute when I was little because I was "way too intense" and always asking questions). This curiosity has translated to a passion for science in my teenage years. I love all of my science classes at school, but unfortunately my school doesn't have the facilities for me to conduct my own independent research. In addition, I would say that I'm fairly self-conscious, so I'm usually nervous to discuss my knowledge and propose my ideas for research projects. TRIP will be my first real independent research experience, and I hope it will improve my self-confidence as well!

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I have absolutely loved my first two TRIP sessions! I was a little nervous that dealing with the fruit flies would trigger my fear of bugs, but luckily it hasn’t. I’ve especially enjoyed sorting the flies -- I would even say that it’s relaxing! I also can’t wait to perform some assays on the flies next weekend. For my first experiment, I’m testing the effects of Red Clover and high temperature on female fertility, so I’ll be using the female fertility assay.
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Here's a few facts about me: I'm a relatively serious ballerina -- I've been dancing since I was 3 years old, and this past summer I was privileged to attend a summer intensive at the Pennsylvania Ballet. I was invited to join their year-round ballet school program, but unfortunately I had to decline due to the incredibly long commute from my home in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Also, every summer I travel to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, where my mother grew up and where most of my family lives. Cyprus is divided between the Turks and the Greeks (my family lives on the Turkish side).  The border is highly militarized, and it's quite a hassle to cross it. This coming summer, I hope to volunteer for the organization "Unite Cyprus Now", whose aim is to improve relations between the Turks and Greeks in hopes of reconciliation. One more fun fact: I've eaten some pretty crazy foods, including kangaroo and sheep's head (brain, eyes, tongue, and cheek).