We here at the Siler Lab are proud of all our undergrads, especially those that have graduated and moved on with the skills they have learned while completing research in our department. Below is the first in the 2018 series: Michelle Penrod. Please also review graduating senior blogs from 2015, 2016, and 2017.

I first began my experience with the Herpetology lab through the Honor’s College FYRE program at the University of Oklahoma. I was interested in evolution and conservation biology, and wanted to see what it was like to work in a research environment. From my first interview with Dr. Siler, I knew this lab would be an exciting place to learn about research and get hands-on experience. Dr. Siler and Jessa Watters quickly got me involved in all areas of the lab. Throughout the semester long FYRE program, I learned how to create scientific illustrations, process specimens, and extract DNA. I also had the opportunity to go out into the field at several locations around Oklahoma. While fieldwork made me nervous at first, it was fun to put on waders and search for frogs with other students. I really enjoyed handling and learning about the frogs, turtles, snakes, and other creatures caught by the lab, and I admired how much the faculty and graduate students respected the animals. After the FYRE program ended, I wasn’t ready to leave the lab so I decided to stay as a volunteer and research assistant.

Throughout my sophomore year, I became interested in population genetics work. With the help of Dr. Tamaki Yuri and Elyse Freitas, who spent considerable time training me in the genetics lab, I was able to contribute to several population genetics projects. I learned how to perform PCR (Polymerase Chain Reactions), gel electrophoresis, and analyze data using GeneMarker software. With the encouragement of other lab members, I applied and received a UROP grant to work on a population genetics project. Because I found this work to be so fascinating, I decided to make it the subject of my honor’s thesis. Working together with Marie Labonte, who began working in Siler lab as another FYRE student, we analyzed microsatellite regions of DNA to investigate how Oklahoma’s diverse landscape affected the genetic structure of Southern Leopard Frog and Blanchard’s Cricket Frog populations. I was able to work on all stages of the project, from extracting DNA from specimens and performing PCRs to running statistical analysis and drafting a manuscript. I received first hand experience of the research process and learned how much work goes into publishing a scientific paper. It was an incredible experience that few students have the opportunity to take part in.

At the beginning of my college career, I never imagined I would become as involved in research as I did. Looking back, I can’t imagine what my college experience would have been without it, and I will definitely miss working in the lab next year. I am currently working as a nurse aid to gain medical experience, and hope to attend a Physician Assistant masters program in the future. While my dream has always been to work in the medical field, working in the lab has shown me that I really love the research process. Many Physician Assistant programs have courses dedicated to clinical research, and I hope that I have the opportunity to be involved in research in my future career.

While I’ve had incredible learning experiences and opportunities working in Siler Lab, it’s the people that make the experience truly memorable. I cannot thank Dr. Cameron Siler, Jessa Watters, Dr. Tamaki Yuri, Elyse Freitas, and other members of the Siler lab enough for all they have done for me. They constantly encourage us to step out of our comfort zones and grow as individuals. The herpetology lab is its own community, and they are always rooting for the success of their students. I am confident that the skills I gained while at Siler lab will help me succeed in graduate school and my future career.

To read the next bog in the series, Kasey Gill, click here.