Closing thoughts

I arrived home yesterday, and I find myself missing life back in Atlanta (minus the heat and humidity!).

Working on memory research in humans this summer was even more confirmation that neurobiology is what I should concentrate (major) in--I still find the brain immensely fascinating. But while I'd be open to joining a cognitive neuroscience lab back at school, I can't see myself doing this type of work as a full-time job. However, one of the other posters at the symposium caught my eye (it was actually my second choice on the list of possible labs we received before arriving): the girl who presented it did research on how psychotropics taken during pregnancy affect the babies. That kind of work is moving a little more towards public health, which I've mentioned that I'd like to explore more. Nevertheless, I wouldn't have traded my lab placement, as I had the chance to work with really wonderful people and I did learn quite a bit.

If you're interested in this program, or a similar one, for next summer, start looking early! I did quite a bit of online searching, typing in phrases like "pre-med internship" and "neuroscience research program". There's also a massive list of programs by the pre-med advisors of another school (I think it may be Columbia). Also, a lot of deadlines are around late January to February.

I would say that the BRAIN program is ideal for people haven't had too much coursework in neuroscience or research experience. I think the orientation mostly helped those of us with little neuroscience background, and since the labs we were in all seemed to have great mentors, it's a good foundational experience to bring back to your home institution when looking for a lab to join (and possibly do your thesis).

In general, I think that summer research programs like this one are the best for meeting people in your field of interest, outside of your home institution (after all, you do have a lot more time to make those connections during the school year). The established scientists I've encountered will be wonderful sources of advice, and I have no doubt that my friends in the program will go on to do great work in the future.

So, that's it! Thanks for reading, and good luck in the upcoming school year! -Jessica

Done!!!

For the most part, that is :) Just got back from my first poster session a little while ago, the culmination of days of writing and editing my final paper and poster. I have to admit I was a little nervous--while I don't have a problem with public speaking, I didn't truly know what to expect. And I've been so involved with the study that I was worried that I wouldn't properly explain the intricacies of the design and results and completely confuse my audience. But I think things went well; though I kind of doubted myself, all the information for the study itself and papers I'd read had really sunk into my mind, and people seemed to understand what was going on, so I'm happy.

Tomorrow will be spent packing up most of my belongings and shipping a box of things home (I arrived with a backpack, purse, and huge piece of luggage, but my parents shipped me box of some things I'd forgotten, plus the program gave us huge binders and a heavy textbook), and going to the exit focus group interview for an hour. On Friday, we have a closing luncheon...and then that's it!