Laura Faulere: The Vibrant chicago and lectures by nobel laureates
Laura is an Engineering Technologies major from Latvia who’s sharing her BAFF experience working in the University of Chicago, learning about genetic analysis.
I completed my Professional Internship Program in Chicago, Illinois at the prestigious University of Chicago. During my stay in the States I wanted to see the Great Lakes. I lived in Hyde Park, which is right next to Lake Michigan and was lucky to see how beautiful the lake is from my window. Chicago is a very vibrant and a culturally significant city. The architecture is absolutely stunning. If you have the chance I would recommend the Chicago Architecture River Cruise. My favorite tourist attraction was the Chicago's Cloud Gate (also known as Chicago Bean) located in Millennium Park. Chicago’s theaters are spectacular and as a movie fan, I loved finding some iconic scenes from movies in real life. Like for example, seeing the Chicago Board of Trade Building from DC’s The Dark Knight Rises was a fan moment.
Chicago is rich with world class museums in one district. I am most interested in scientific achievements from nature or an industrial nature. That’s why Field Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry was a must-see kind of thing. The American engineering marvels from trains to planes and spaceships were my favorite. I also managed to soak up some culture at the Art Institute of Chicago and be bewildered at our beautiful solar system at the Adler Planetarium. If you are in to observing wild life, Lincoln Park Zoo (admission is free!) or Shedd Aquarium are great. The residents of Illinois are fortunate to be able to visit most of the museums on specific days free of charge.
While I enjoyed a lot of leisurely activities my main goal was of an academic pursuit. I interned at the Ecology and Evolution department of University of Chicago. My host was Manyuan Long, Ph.D. At the Long laboratory I learnt a great deal about Drosophila genetic analyses tools. I conducted molecular gene RNA interference knockdown and CRISPR gene editing knockout analyses. I investigated the evolutionary forces acting on de novo genes in the model species of Drosophila melanogaster (more commonly known as the fruit fly). For this experiment >70 new genes were studied. The viability and fertility tests I had conducted showed significant results regarding the fruit fly fitness. Hopefully, the results I managed to get along side with the rest of the data obtained by Long laboratory members will results in a scientific paper.
During my stay at the laboratory, I attended all laboratory meetings and listened in on University organized lectures from Nobel prize laureates and other accomplished scientists. I had the opportunity to attend the Molecular Biosciences Retreat and Darwinian Sciences Cluster Retreat. I really enjoyed my time with Dr. M. Long and his team. I am grateful to have been a part of a renowned laboratory where all the members made me feel welcome. I learned a lot and it was a very productive 11 months.
Laura and husband Nick at Chicago Museum Campus.