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Although I’m a senior at Goucher, I had never thought about doing research until this year. Of course, I read the emails about summer research but I hadn’t considered doing it until a biology faculty member directly asked me to think about it. That’s when I approached a biology professor (now my faculty mentor) and asked about her research. This led to my particpation in the Goucher Summer Science Research Program.

The summer research program caters to many departments, including biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and computer sciences, and psychology.  Goucher has allowed its undergraduate students to participate in summer research through various funding and donations.  I was able to work with Dr. Birthe Veno Kjellerup in the Microbiology field.  Our research focused on the effects of biofilm formation within a living host model. 

During the summer, research students were able to present their research topics to fellow Goucher students and faculty in an informal manner.  Towards the end of July, the research students met again to discuss their results during the 3^rd Annual Landmark Conference Summer Research Symposium.  Goucher hosted this symposium and invited undergraduate research students from Juniata College, Susquehanna University, and Moravian College.  I, along with five other Goucher students, was presented with an award for our presentations.

Participating in this program allowed me to develop a relationship with my faculty mentor, Dr. Birthe Veno Kjellerup, as well as many other faculty members.  In addition, I was able to develop a greater understand of Microbiology and learn lab techniques that are important in many areas of biology.  By the end of summer research, I was able to work collaboratively with my faculty mentor to design a new project for continuation of the research during the fall and spring semesters.   Now, I’m excited run experiments in the lab, and fix problems when the experiments don’t go as planned!

-Asia Houston, Class of 2012