Kevin, I appreciate that in your moment of confusion and struggle, you were able to find a clearer path about how to conduct your research and how to intersect attention with confidence. In my experience, I also have found clarity in these moments where it feels like I've hit a dead end or don't know if things will turn out the way I envisioned and I think it makes the research more interesting!

Aneesha, I think it’s really interesting that you are choosing to have the final product of the program be a research paper that entails both academic writing and math modeling. The writing may make your math modeling measures more accessible to people like me who may not immediately understand such models. I am excited to see how your work this summer with the paper informs your research focus for next summer as well! 

I find the first part of your response super interesting especially because you’re dealing with many texts that come from such a different context and language so I will be interested to see how you are able to navigate it. I think finding multiple translations will be very helpful, but I imagine it can be difficult if there is only one version of an ancient text. I feel this as well when I am dealing with translations of Classical texts with my major and it can be hard not to be anachronistic even when we are very deliberative about our processes. It seems that you’re doing a good job of it though!

It's so interesting to hear your take on the interdisciplinary aspect of your research and I feel that I can relate to your point about finding meaning in our projects beyond our own personal interest. I can also understand the challenge of the IRB as I have been facing the same requirements with my own research and the oral history interviews I too want to conduct. I am curious to learn more about how your protocol shapes up and I hope the process is quick and easy for you!

It's so interesting how the interdisciplinary nature of your project aligns with the expressive style which, as you mention, does not fit the norm or stereotype for the field. I think the expressive approach you plan to take with your fellow lab members and with your research will add a really interesting level of complexity to the results and outcome of your work. The nuance that exists in your expressive style as a researcher in the STEM field allows you to understand the greater implications that your research may have like in PTSD, for example. Looking forward to learning more about your project!