Yessica Giron’s METEOR Program Experience
YESSICA GIRON’S METEOR PROGRAM EXPEREINCE
BLOG POST
Introduction
My name is Yessica Nicole Giron and I am a senior at Oxon Hill High School. I am someone who enjoys hiking and photography. I absolutely love the outdoors and I think it is very fun to connect with nature. My passions include medicine and photography. I applied to the METEOR program because I want to major in Neuroscience in college and be in the medical field. I felt as if this program completely aligned with what I have planned for my future. The METEOR program has helped me in so many ways, it has allowed me to gain research and clinical experience and this program will help me meet my goals in becoming a pediatric neurologist through already having such an early introduction to what working in a hospital is like.
Overview of your Research Project
During my time in the METEOR program, I was in Dr. Triplett’s laboratory. Dr. Triplett was my mentor and Dr. Sharma helped me throughout my project. My project was titled, “Altered organization of neuronal subtypes in the superior colliculus of Fmr1KO mice across development”. In this project we studied Fragile X syndrome (FXS) which is an X-linked genetic disorder that is caused by the silencing of the Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 (Fmr1) gene which produces a protein (FMRP) that is critical for brain development. FXS is the most common monogenic cause of intellectual disability and autism. Physical and sensory deficits in FXS include altered synaptic structure, macroorchidism, and hypersensitivity. These sensitivities may include impairments to visual integration, visual-spatial and numerical deficits, or diminished visual motor function. We aimed to define the density and distribution of different neuronal cell types in the superior colliculus (SC) throughout neurodevelopment. Our methodology included cryosectioning, immunohistochemistry, confocal imaging, and statistical assessment of observed data. We concluded that there were significant differences in the size and density of the neurons. Skills I learned were how to perform these methodologies in the lab and through the help of my mentors, I was able to achieve this.
Shadowing/Field Trips
One shadowing experience that I had during the summer that helped shape my understanding of the medical field was in the Craniofacial Clinic. This is because there were so many different interdisciplinary fields in medicine in this one clinic such as surgery, psychology, social work, etc; all coming together to help the patients. It was amazing seeing how all of the staff communicated with the patients and each other to ensure the patient is getting the help they need which is really the core of medicine.
One field trip I participated in was the GW Simulation Center and two main takeaways from this experience was how much the medical field is advancing through technology and the intensive training medical students go through to ensure they are doing their best in the medical field. I found it extremely fascinating seeing how this process happens and how they have models of real-life scenarios that happen in the operating room or in a consult. I found it very cool learning how to draw blood. Both of these experiences enhanced my overall internship experience through seeing first hand how people study to get into the medical field and the process that happens behind the scenes in a clinic such as consults and meetings.
Learning Experiences (Lunch and Learns, Lectures)
My favorite lecture was, of course, the “Visual System” by Dr. Triplett. This significantly contributed to my understanding in my research because my research project was based around the visual field and how sensory processing happens in the brain when it is affected. Dr. Triplett’s lecture was very interactive and he did an amazing job explaining the different areas of visual processing.
I learned more about the eye, and the superior colliculus. Everyone was very interactive with the lesson and asked him about more information on the eyes and different scenarios. I found it very interesting how Dr. Triplett was explaining how the eye may react in different scenarios and experiments throughout development in not only mouse models but he also explained it in other animal models and applied it to a clinical setting. I definitely learned something new, I learned how the superior colliculus is so important in sensory processing and in the visual field. It did spark a new interest because I thought to myself and I still do wonder how amazing it would be to conduct an experiment about how the eye develops and its variation in development and the effects it has on different types of sensory processing.
Conclusion
The overall impact the METEOR program had on my career goals and personal growth is immense. Meeting an amazing group of people and that I was able to strengthen and grow my skill sets in communication, teamwork, and taking initiative. I learned about the M.D. and P.h.D career path in which I am very interested in and that is something that I now want to pursue.
I have always enjoyed working with children and being a part of the METEOR experience enhanced that enjoyment so much that I want to work in the pediatric department. I was able to learn about the responsibilities that came with being mentored by a neuroscientist and how important it was to communicate with employers and the overall team. I learned how organized the laboratory is and how the meetings work. There is a specific protocol set for each experience, and overall organizing things to be one in the lab takes time and patience.
Advice I would share to future interns is to really enjoy the METEOR experience because you are getting experiences you would not be able to get anywhere else. Do not be afraid to ask questions, everyone there wants you to succeed and help you throughout your journey not only academically, and professionally, but throughout life.
