This blog is devoted to BIOL 6988, a graduate level seminar in the biological sciences at Youngstown State University. While targeted towards graduate students, BIOL 6988 actively incorporates undergraduate participants in their scholastic endeavors in the biological sciences. This blog is intended as a educational tool not just for YSU students and faculty, but for anyone who wishes to contribute to an active-learning environment.
Thanks for accommodating me, Dr. Cooper. Two years ago I made the commitment to continue my education by pursuing a master’s degree, and that decision inevitably brought me to Ohio and YSU. I met Dr. Butcher last January at a conference, found his work interesting, and here I am. Before seminar, I knew nothing about the other biology department faculty members, and so I appreciate that this course served as an introduction of sorts to their interests and research. From Dr. Fagan’s work using phage display, to Dr. Walkers’s work on making muscle tissue, I have to say that our department has incredibly diverse research interests and is doing some pretty cool work. My favorite presentation was Dr. Diggins’ talk on stream ecology. I had a moment of realization – an epiphany or sorts – about the connectedness of things, that even the smallest detail like riverbed composition has a profound impact on the surrounding biota and abiota. For me it was an eye-opening experience, and I hope that when I’m teaching and researching, I can have that same impact on future biology students. Which presentation was your favorite and why? Which faculty member’s research interests pique your own? I’d like to end the semester by wishing you good luck in your endeavors and congratulate you on making it this far!
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the various talks throughout the semester. As Kyle mentioned, it is always very interesting to hear what our professors are currently delving into. Having done my undergraduate coursework at YSU, I was fairly familiar with what most of the professors researched. With that being said, I think my favorite presentation was by Dr. Tall. Typically I don’t often think about a professor’s background other than what they have done academically, thus it was interesting to hear that Dr. Tall’s journey may be similar to our own. As for whose research piqued my interest, I would have to go with Dr. Min’s as that is the closest related to what I will be looking at with Dr. Asch.
Thanks for the last question of the semester, Kyle. I would have to say that all of the presenter's this year were fantastic. Here's the deal; whether you like it or not I'm going to pick two presentations as my favorites. So first I would like to say that as a student, my favorite presentation was Nina's because that girl is a wonderful speaker. The way she delivered that presentation is how I hope I can speak about my own research when my time comes. On the other hand, thinking about our professors, Dr. Tall was my favorite presenter. Dr. Tall really helped me to take a step back and analyze my choice and the trajectory of my future as a scientific researcher. Sitting through lectures on phage display and stream ecology is absolutely wonderful, but sometimes what we really need to learn is how to take a deep breath and realize that not everything needs to be as black and white as we've been lead to believe. Especially in research.
Although I think everyone did a great job presenting at seminar this year, I would have to say that Dr. Tall's presentation was my favorite. I related a lot to her experiences form undergrad and it made me take a step back to think if I was on the right path, aka the path that I wanted to be on. Her research with rats was also somewhat similar to the research I did in undergrad and like her, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, but I ended up loving it! It made me want to continue research which is what brought me to Dr. Butcher's lab here at YSU. I think it was really good to hear from a professor that life doesn't always work as planned and that our long term goals may change and that it's OKAY for all of that to happen. It helped reaffirm that although there are bumps we hit along the way, we always end up where we are supposed to be.
Coming here to YSU to pursue a Master’s degree in biology was a big step for me in my life, and was there was a lot of adjustment. I had trouble figuring what I wanted to do with this degree, and was uncertain of the journey that I’d be taking to get there. In fact, I’m still unsure today what I want to do to this day. There were actually two presentations that stood out to me because they described their career journeys of how they got to where they are today. Dr. Walker and Dr. Tall both did a great job explaining how they got their positions as professors and the process of choosing their research of interest. They both inspired me to hopefully one day tell my career story to a room full of students who are unsure, like me, of what they want to do with their life in terms of biological research.
all presenters did an excellent job in their findings and presentations, but Dr Walker and Dr Too presentations equipped me with the skill of determination will never fail despite the challenges.Therefore the overall course inspired me mentally and in the field of research.
I enjoyed all of the faculty presentations. For me, the most interesting was Dr. Fagan's research. This is partly because I have a little more background information that allowed me understand her concepts a little more deeply. I also liked Dr. Tall's presentation, because it was the first one with a non-research-based approach that reaffirmed the idea that it's OK not to have everything figured out.
Thanks for accommodating me, Dr. Cooper. Two years ago I made the commitment to continue my education by pursuing a master’s degree, and that decision inevitably brought me to Ohio and YSU. I met Dr. Butcher last January at a conference, found his work interesting, and here I am. Before seminar, I knew nothing about the other biology department faculty members, and so I appreciate that this course served as an introduction of sorts to their interests and research. From Dr. Fagan’s work using phage display, to Dr. Walkers’s work on making muscle tissue, I have to say that our department has incredibly diverse research interests and is doing some pretty cool work. My favorite presentation was Dr. Diggins’ talk on stream ecology. I had a moment of realization – an epiphany or sorts – about the connectedness of things, that even the smallest detail like riverbed composition has a profound impact on the surrounding biota and abiota. For me it was an eye-opening experience, and I hope that when I’m teaching and researching, I can have that same impact on future biology students. Which presentation was your favorite and why? Which faculty member’s research interests pique your own? I’d like to end the semester by wishing you good luck in your endeavors and congratulate you on making it this far!
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed listening to the various talks throughout the semester. As Kyle mentioned, it is always very interesting to hear what our professors are currently delving into. Having done my undergraduate coursework at YSU, I was fairly familiar with what most of the professors researched. With that being said, I think my favorite presentation was by Dr. Tall. Typically I don’t often think about a professor’s background other than what they have done academically, thus it was interesting to hear that Dr. Tall’s journey may be similar to our own. As for whose research piqued my interest, I would have to go with Dr. Min’s as that is the closest related to what I will be looking at with Dr. Asch.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the last question of the semester, Kyle. I would have to say that all of the presenter's this year were fantastic. Here's the deal; whether you like it or not I'm going to pick two presentations as my favorites. So first I would like to say that as a student, my favorite presentation was Nina's because that girl is a wonderful speaker. The way she delivered that presentation is how I hope I can speak about my own research when my time comes. On the other hand, thinking about our professors, Dr. Tall was my favorite presenter. Dr. Tall really helped me to take a step back and analyze my choice and the trajectory of my future as a scientific researcher. Sitting through lectures on phage display and stream ecology is absolutely wonderful, but sometimes what we really need to learn is how to take a deep breath and realize that not everything needs to be as black and white as we've been lead to believe. Especially in research.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I think everyone did a great job presenting at seminar this year, I would have to say that Dr. Tall's presentation was my favorite. I related a lot to her experiences form undergrad and it made me take a step back to think if I was on the right path, aka the path that I wanted to be on. Her research with rats was also somewhat similar to the research I did in undergrad and like her, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, but I ended up loving it! It made me want to continue research which is what brought me to Dr. Butcher's lab here at YSU. I think it was really good to hear from a professor that life doesn't always work as planned and that our long term goals may change and that it's OKAY for all of that to happen. It helped reaffirm that although there are bumps we hit along the way, we always end up where we are supposed to be.
ReplyDeleteComing here to YSU to pursue a Master’s degree in biology was a big step for me in my life, and was there was a lot of adjustment. I had trouble figuring what I wanted to do with this degree, and was uncertain of the journey that I’d be taking to get there. In fact, I’m still unsure today what I want to do to this day. There were actually two presentations that stood out to me because they described their career journeys of how they got to where they are today. Dr. Walker and Dr. Tall both did a great job explaining how they got their positions as professors and the process of choosing their research of interest. They both inspired me to hopefully one day tell my career story to a room full of students who are unsure, like me, of what they want to do with their life in terms of biological research.
ReplyDeleteall presenters did an excellent job in their findings and presentations, but Dr Walker and Dr Too presentations equipped me with the skill of determination will never fail despite the challenges.Therefore the overall course inspired me mentally and in the field of research.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed all of the faculty presentations. For me, the most interesting was Dr. Fagan's research. This is partly because I have a little more background information that allowed me understand her concepts a little more deeply. I also liked Dr. Tall's presentation, because it was the first one with a non-research-based approach that reaffirmed the idea that it's OK not to have everything figured out.
ReplyDelete