Having worked in the lab since fall semester last year, which can oftentimes be a rather isolating environment, I am most excited to be able to share my findings and work through hurdles with this fantastic cohort. Even though our time together has only just begun, I can already feel the genuine kindness, dedication, and innovation of these students. Hearing about each and every scholar discuss their research with passion and vigor has not only given me a burst of motivation in completing my own project, but also gives me hope and inspiration about where our research will take us beyond this first summer.
Even within my pre-medical focused mentor group, I could instantly tell how varied our interests and research pathways were. In awe, I listened to my peers talk about their vastly different research methods, from interviews and field research to mouse experiments and meta analysis techniques. Beyond my own discipline, I find the humanities research to be incredibly compelling and interesting. While I study the unseen intricacies of microorganisms in the human body, others are studying entire communities and countries -- both are important and necessary for change and advancement. Mostly, I find so much value in the interdisciplinary nature of Laidlaw in that it expands my viewpoint to uncharted territory and allows all of us to become a step closer to bringing innovative changes to science, medicine, politics, literature, and more.
After attending the introductory course on Zotero and the extensive Columbia Library resources, I feel more equipped but also slightly daunted by the impending literature review I am preparing to write. It truly seems as though the comprehensive list of published papers is endless, not to mention cross-analysis and cross-referencing of papers. However, if I have learned anything from Laidlaw already, it is that the support system is unendingly helpful, and I am thrilled to be able to talk through these difficulties with my mentor, peers, and librarian.
*Featuring: A not-so-candid candid of some new friends enjoying Mama's Too pizza in Riverside Park (they highly recommend trying)!
Hello! My name is Lauren Suh and I am a rising sophomore at Columbia University from San Diego, California. I am majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior on the pre-medical track and plan to minor in Music (I play the flute!).
This summer, I will be working at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center under the supervision of Dr. Yousin Suh. My research project delves into ovarian aging, a critical marker of systemic body aging as one of the first organs to exhibit signs of aging. I will be researching whether DNA Helicase B, or HELB, delays or impacts ovarian aging.
I love yoga, running, thrifting, and baking! I am hoping to learn pottery this summer, so please reach out if you would like to join!
