University of Cincinnati RAMP
In my second semester of colleges, I applied to be a part of the University’s Research and Mentoring Program (RAMP). The focus of the program was to pair undergraduate students with researchers in both UC and Children’s Hospital and Medical Center research Labs. This allowed for both research experience, but also experience working with a mentor and in a real world situation.
I was matched with Dr. Diamantis Konstantinidis in Children’s Hospital’s Department of Experimental Hematology and Research. Overall, the experience taught me several important skills for a researcher, such as how to run PCR, working with laboratory mice, and different pieces of dissection, flow cytometry, and notetaking. However, the most important takeaways were not skill sets.
In terms of professionalism, the experiences taught me how to verbally communicate. Listen and understand directions, and perhaps more importantly accept constructive criticism. I learned to work under a supervisor, and take clear and concise notes. These are all skills that will be a direct benefit to me while on Co-op, but will also be invaluable throughout my entire career.
Finally, the experience showed me many of the realities of research I was not aware of. Research is for a majority of the time, a very slow very repetitive process. I enjoyed what was being studied in the lab, but I did not enjoy the amount of down time, or the slow periods of the day, week, or semester. The experience really helped me narrow what I want in my future career. Although I enjoyed working with the mice, performing real work, and seeing practical results, I truly want to be more directly involved with the lives of others. Although research is an excellent form of service, it is a little more behind the scenes then I believe I would like to be.
My time with RAMP helped narrow what I want to do in the future, as well as taught me incredibly important workplace skills.
I was matched with Dr. Diamantis Konstantinidis in Children’s Hospital’s Department of Experimental Hematology and Research. Overall, the experience taught me several important skills for a researcher, such as how to run PCR, working with laboratory mice, and different pieces of dissection, flow cytometry, and notetaking. However, the most important takeaways were not skill sets.
In terms of professionalism, the experiences taught me how to verbally communicate. Listen and understand directions, and perhaps more importantly accept constructive criticism. I learned to work under a supervisor, and take clear and concise notes. These are all skills that will be a direct benefit to me while on Co-op, but will also be invaluable throughout my entire career.
Finally, the experience showed me many of the realities of research I was not aware of. Research is for a majority of the time, a very slow very repetitive process. I enjoyed what was being studied in the lab, but I did not enjoy the amount of down time, or the slow periods of the day, week, or semester. The experience really helped me narrow what I want in my future career. Although I enjoyed working with the mice, performing real work, and seeing practical results, I truly want to be more directly involved with the lives of others. Although research is an excellent form of service, it is a little more behind the scenes then I believe I would like to be.
My time with RAMP helped narrow what I want to do in the future, as well as taught me incredibly important workplace skills.
Artifact: Final Presentation on my Experience
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