This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity of working in Dr. Michele Jacob’s lab. Dr. Jacob’s neuroscience lab at the Tufts University School of Medicine focuses on investigating pathways associated intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). ID affects approximately 2% of the population. My research involved working with key proteins of interest: beta-catenin and GSK. Beta-catenin, or CTNNB1, is a protein involved in the Wnt signaling pathway, which plays an important role in neuroplasticity, learning and memory, and development.  Some of the techniques used in the lab include genotyping, protein assays, western blots, and immunoprecipitations. Genotyping via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a very detailed process that requires the use of primers, which anneal to specific DNA base pairs. Once the primers anneal to the target DNA strands, the DNA is then ready to be amplified under optimal conditions created by the PCR machine. At this point, the target DNA is amplified in small tubes and then the genotype can be identified using gel electrophoresis.   In our lab, we use conditional knockout (cKO) mice that have been created to model certain disorders for both behavioral experiments and protein analysis. To gather data on each mouse, it is important that the researchers know the mouse’s genotype. For example, we may need to know whether a mouse is heterozygous for beta-catenin or if it is an overexpressor, which means the mouse expresses more protein than a typical mouse would. Different genotypes––alleles for a given gene––may result in distinct phenotypes––observable traits––which, in turn, influence cognition and behavior.  For part of my Leadership-in-Action project, I worked with a high school student who volunteered in lab throughout the summer as well. Like me, this student was highly motivated and interested in the research work being conducted Dr. Jacob’s lab. I was assigned the task of training the high school student in lab techniques, mainly genotyping. We worked together as a team to properly identify the genotype of countless mice over the course of several weeks, allowing for those mice to be used for behavioral data collection as well as protein analysis. In addition to teaching the student in this capacity, I also got to develop my leadership skills as a mentor. This student had many questions about my experience at Tufts, my future career endeavors, and academics in general. I looked at this as a great opportunity to provide helpful guidance and answer questions I once struggled with, too. This experience was so rewarding, as it allowed me to grow as a leader and reflect on all of the amazing people who have helped me get to where I am today. My time with Laidlaw this summer was truly a remarkable experience for me, as I learned so much about how biomedical research works as well as a great deal about beta-catenin and pathways associated with intellectual disability. Laidlaw gave me the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to combine two of my greatest passions: disability justice advocacy and medicine. These two passions have shaped me into the person I am today and have been at the forefront of my every major life decision. I am extremely grateful to everyone at the Laidlaw Foundation for this opportunity, as well as Dr. Jacob, Jon Alexander, my other colleagues, and the Tufts-Laidlaw Team at the Provost’s office.