Hughes Mentor:  George Hess

Department: Molecular Biology and Genetics

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A Day in the Life of an Undergraduate in the Hess Lab

I first met Professor Hess through interviews I was required to conduct for the Rawlings Cornell Presidential Research Scholars Program (a program at Cornell that aims to connect undergraduates with faculty to design and plan an individualized research project). For half of the time we talked about science and for the other half about our mutual interest in mountain climbing. Dr. Hess’s research on the biophysics of neurotransmitter receptors caught my attention because of the unique way in which he does research (we use a laser to measure how fast the receptors open and close) and its applicability to human disease (many projects in the lab involve epilepsy or the adverse affects of cocaine). After talking with Dr. Hess again, he gave me some papers to read, and after reading the papers at the end of my fall semester freshman year I began work in the spring of 2005.

There are many ways to study neurophysiology, but one of the most widely used ways is the general technique of electrophysiology. Electrophysiology is the study of the electrical properties of cells which allows for a deeper understanding of how a cell works. The lab uses an electrophysiology technique that allows us to precisely measure the amount of current flowing through neurotransmitter receptors embedded in the cell membrane. In addition, we can use a laser to determine how fast the receptors open and close. Since the technique involves lifting single cells from the bottom of a Petri dish, it can be rather tedious at times and can take a whole semester to learn. So, I spent my first semester learning the electrophysiology technique and how to culture cells.

Now, nearly everyday I am performing electrophysiology experiments. My project is involved in epilepsy, and I am specifically interested in a mutation in a neurotransmitter receptor that has been linked to the disease. Two and half years after joining the lab I have finally started performing experiments with the laser. This is a good example of how much preparation must go into a set of experiments before you start actually moving on a project. Research is a slow process, but it is one with many rewards. One of the great things about doing research over the summer is that you get to devote all of your time to your project and you really see things develop.

Courses I have taken during the academic year really help me to understand my research and vice versa. This is probably more so in Professor Hess’s lab since our work is so interdisciplinary. The lab brings physics, chemistry, and biology together to thoroughly study neurotransmitter receptors. For instance, taking physical chemistry allowed me to fully understand all of the kinetic equations. But, being familiar with these equations also allowed me to better understand the material taught in the course, so research and classes go hand in hand.

Most of all, research in the Hess lab has introduced me to how to do basic science research with an eye towards medical applications. Our research studies neurophysiology at the most basic level, but in doing so we are always looking for ways to apply our research to medicine. For instance, right now my project involves determining the molecular mechanism of a mutated receptor linked to epilepsy, but the long term goal of the project is to develop compounds that will effectively repair the mutation. I plan to continue doing basic research with applications to medicine through a MD/PhD program.

My Experience in the Hess Lab

Prior to joining the Hess lab, I was armed with a few chemical principles and a general understanding of neurobiology. Some of the general lab procedures that I learned in introductory courses came in handy to perform basal-level work in the lab. In essence, I did not quite understand what I was getting myself into and it is safe to say that most if it was new to me. Regardless, the reason I joined the lab rests in my interest in neuro-receptor dysfunction in epilepsy. So there was a hook. I needed to master the techniques before I could do any useful research and this took a significant amount of time. I joined the lab during spring semester of sophomore year and if I could do it differently, I would have started in the summer. The techniques are absolutely amazing and make a lot of sense now, but at the time, it was difficult to prioritize research above class. Before I joined this lab, I did not have any significant research experience and it was a new feeling for me to sit in front of a microscope for hours at a time. At times, I was frustrated and I secretly wished to in a behavioral studies lab. With time, the techniques, theory, and the lab atmosphere grew on me and everything else was just an activation barrier of sorts. It helps to actively ask questions, avidly read literature, and maintain a lab notebook.

Interest is a huge part of research - you have to be interested in what you do and the bigger picture has to make sense to you. Otherwise, it is so tempting to call it quits. Without say, research requires persistence and on occasion, self-motivation. Are you willing to go the extra mile to stay a few extra hours to alter parameters and repeat the experiment? Even though I work with a stable cell line, I still need flexibility in my schedule to accommodate for overly zealous cells or come-back-another-day-not-in-the-mood-to-cooperate cells. Research experiences during the academic year are completely different from full-time summer research. This summer, I was able to get more done than during an entire academic year. Who would have thought? Overall, excluding the ups and downs in my love life, summer time research was much more pleasant because I was not occupied with classes or exams. In addition, I have found that members in my lab are much happier in the summer and less occupied with grant proposals, and seminars. This description would be incomplete if I did not mention that it is almost inevitable that you have to shoulder blows to your ego. On that same note, figuring something out in the lab is like solving that elusive calculus problem. Keep the faith.