I loved hearing about the details of your project! You covered how essential the iterative process of feedback and improvement shapes research and scientific communication as a whole. Your motivation in understanding and reprogramming immune functions in the body to our advantage in the case of brain tumors is inspiring! I also agree that the potential environmental underpinnings of biological processes are essential to factor into responsive interventions and treatments. I am looking forward to your final presentation!

1. I have found that reading through papers that detail the mathematical modeling methods that supplement my current work gives me essential insight into the specificity of my unique applications. Understanding cell state and composition (part of a sample or cluster) as having a significant role in my analyses has shifted my original extracted data to be more predictive of the outcomes I am measuring. For the regression modeling portion of my project, I had some issues with a tool for obtaining cluster-specific infection severity markers, but I have now amended that by further discriminating the input data. I now plan on constructing separate classifiers for the cell subtypes to get gene signatures that best distinguish among them marked by severity/composition. Then I am implementing a binary elastic-net model using the gene signatures for each cell type by considering a certain cell type as one class and all other cell types as another class given the severity feature. 

2. Github issues, Biostars, and the protocol information from related publications/tools have been invaluable for technical troubleshooting and scoping out where and how my results feed into current literature. Additionally, since my use case is often very different from the presented examples, I am prompted to experiment with novel methods detailed in community guides. 

I enjoyed reading your discussion post about your research goals and interests. You have a very clear and ambitious plan for your project, and I admire your enthusiasm for creating and collecting data for 3D models of flowers. I also agree that your project is important for advancing the field of plant science and conservation!

1. My current goal is to compose a paper by the beginning of next semester so currently I keep track of all my progress through detailed notes. I am still working to further my primary research questions. What are the molecular mechanisms that underpin clinical evidence of more severe SARS-CoV-2  infection status when a patient has diabetes, and how may dysregulation as a result of SARS-CoV-2 infection instigate the development of diabetes? My aim is to complete a cluster elastic net regression model to identify gene signature predictive of SARS-CoV-2 infection status informed by cell composition and differentially expressed genes. Additionally, I am working on a comparative transcriptomic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 across stages and type 1 and type 2 diabetes. With a clear step-wise pathway I hope to be better equipped to tackle challenges. 

2. Patients with diabetes and COVID-19 are at a heightened risk of developing severe complications, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, multi-organ failure, and death. This increased susceptibility may be attributed to the underlying inflammation associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and other comorbidities typically seen in patients. Patients with hyperglycemia exhibit elevated expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the cellular receptor for viral entry, which further facilitates viral infection. The pre-existing chronic inflammation, augmented inflammatory response, and increased viral load in diabetic patients contribute to a systemic immune response known as the "cytokine storm," which is strongly associated with the severity of COVID-19. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 infection can also induce dysregulation of metabolic factors and trigger the onset of diabetes. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the bidirectional relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and diabetes are not fully understood. 

I particularly agree with your mention of the ethics session with Dr. Klitzman. Regardless of our specific research areas, ethical considerations are crucial in any type of research. Understanding the ethical implications of our work and incorporating ethical frameworks into our projects is essential for maintaining integrity and ensuring the well-being of participants or subjects. Dr. Klitzman's session provided valuable guidance and emphasized the importance of ethical awareness and decision-making, which is applicable across disciplines. The lessons from the librarian sessions have not only equipped us with practical research tools but have also emphasized the importance of information literacy. In an era of information overload, it is crucial to critically evaluate sources, discern reliable information from misinformation, and understand how to effectively use scholarly resources. These skills will undoubtedly benefit us not only in our current research projects but throughout our academic and professional careers.

1.  Interacting with students from different disciplines has exposed me to a variety of perspectives, methodologies, and approaches to problem-solving in a research setting. This exposure has helped me think beyond the boundaries of my own area of research. It has encouraged me to consider alternative viewpoints and innovative solutions I might not have explored otherwise. The exposure to different research areas has encouraged me to delve deeper into topics outside of what I have previously been exposed to. This past week has been invaluable in shaping my academic interests and inspiring me to pursue interdisciplinary research further.

2. Strong communication with mentors and informed collection of data are key takeaways from last week that have guided my involvement so far. I have found that the universities computing and database resources are especially helpful to my area of translational study. Also, connecting with my mentor to discuss different methodologies under the same goal or research question has broadened my understanding of the field. 

Hello Cady! I think seeking diverse perspectives is a great way to grow as a leader and better understand ways to reach out collective goals. I would love to continue being in an inclusive and open environment in the future so I really agree with this aspect of leadership! I also will need to get aquatinted with unfamiliar technologies and/or methodology in my analyses pipelines and being open to a new way of learning and processing.

1. I would love to learn about how I can use my strengths in communication to create a positive, collaborative environment in a leadership setting.

2. I anticipate that my primary challenges will be more technical (statistical techniques) and learning and applying pathways I am unfamiliar with.