Amanda Wacker

Ms. Katelyn Stark

ENC 2135
Investigative Field Report
Introduction:
Every time someone discovers that I am going into the biology field, I am greeted with a
chorus of good luck and the occasional yikes. Eventually, I had to ask myself, why the pity?
What made the collective view this as a anomalous decision to make? What am I really getting
myself into here? This investigative field essay is an opportunity for me to discover what it really
means to live as a biology major, and what I was really signing up for when I checked that box in
my college applications. The reader will also gain insight of what can be expected of biology
majors.
For me, the most interesting part of biology is the human body. The many intricate
systems and parts coming together and working to allow humans to live, breathe and operate at a
level capable of creating the world we live in now is mind blowing to me. These and many other
aspects of biology draw people from around the world into this field.
There is a lot of stigma in the science fields about diversity or the lack thereof. While
conducting my secondary research I came across a number of shocking statistics. Jones MT, et
al., note that 3% of science careers are made up of hispanics and african-americans. The number
of african-americans and hispanics in science fields was so small, they didnt even get their own
distinct categories. This fact is not a deterrent for me, there was also a time in history where
women made up only 3% of the work force and the environment surrounding the era changed

and adapted to give way to women taking up a fair share of the workforce in the present era. The
field will continue to grow and evolve as time passes.
I came into Florida State University as a biology major with a pre-med track. According
to research published by Richardson, et al., there is an exceptionally high rate of student
attrition within the fields of science and because the process of changing academic major or area
of focus can often lead to additional time of degree completion, as well as a decrease in self
confidence and assurance. This could be for a variety of reasons, sometimes, like in my case,
people arent sure exactly what it means to complete a hard science degree. The article also
mention a positive correlation between undergraduate research and overall science competency.
Which leads to these undergraduate research participants furthering their education in a way nonparticipants were unable to. A concept that is reinforced by another article by Jones MT, et al.,
which also draws a correlation from a survey in which students report that working with peers
and faculty in an hands-on [undergraduate research] environment was important for
developing skills and increasing academic confidence.
Discovering this information shed some light on what can be expected in the coming
years. Articles and statistics arent enough to satisfy my interests and questions about what I
really signed up for pursuing a biology degree.

Methods:
To further my research, I decided to interview people who are currently enrolled as a
biology student or working in the biology field who would be able to give personal accounts and
experiences of living in the biology field. My first interview was with Spencer Hilgenfeldt,
an upperclassman who instructs a biological science Freshman Interest Group Colloquium at
FSU. He is set to graduate summer of 2017, and conducted research alongside the chemistry

department over the summer and plans to start a new research project this fall. I asked him the
following questions: What undergraduate research were you involved in? (Since multiple sources
in my research highlighted the role of undergraduate research playing into future success.) How
did this involvement shape your understanding and insight of your major? What were some of
the biggest obstacles you faced while pursuing your education? How did you overcome this?
What the biggest reward of pursuing life in this major?
My second interview was with Julia Cheng who is currently pursuing her Ph.D in
Biology at the University of Arizona. She in involved in research with Dr. Janet L. Funk studying
the roles of transforming growth factor beta and estrogen receptor signaling in estrogen receptorpositive breast cancer bone metastases. She also runs a blog about her experiences as a Ph.D
student. I conducted this interview over her blogs messaging system, and I asked the following
questions: Were you involved with research as an undergraduate? How did it shape your
experience in this field of study? What are some obstacles you faced while pursuing your
education? Whats the most rewarding experience you've had in this field? What is something
someone going for to graduate should know that no one really told you? As a woman of color,
how do you feel about statistics involving underrepresented populations in the biology field?
My final interview was with Michelle Arbeitman, an associate professor at FSUs
College of Medicine. Dr. Arbeitman received her B.A. in molecular and cell biology at
University of California at Berkeley and her Ph.D in developmental biology at Stanford
University. She currently has 11 published research articles and is also currently conducting
research on the genetic basis of courtship and reproduction in fruit flies. I asked her How did
your undergraduate research mold your path of research now? What do you believe are the
benefits and drawbacks of pursuing a Ph.D? What are your experiences with research funding?

What is the range of individuals working in your lab with you? How does your position differ
from other biology colleges here at FSU?

Results:
The interviews I conducted helped bridge gaps in my research by filling in formation where the
impersonal articles left me unable to draw a conclusion.
Spencer Hilgenfeldt says that his involvement with undergraduate research helped steer
him in the right direction. During his research he realized that chemistry wasnt what he wanted.
This discovery pushed him further into the studying in the medical field. He says that his time
spent studying in this field wasnt always easy. He recalls having markers thrown at him by a
frustrated physics professor when he was unable to understand the material presented. It's not
discouraging, you sit up there and you feed off it, he says, the frustrations and the failures of
one day motivate you to come in the next day ready to overcome those obstacles.
Julia Cheng revealed that the biggest obstacle for her was finding a thesis lab, since the
labs she was interested in couldnt handle to amount of people applying to rotate. Typically,
graduate students get three rotations in labs, lasting about nine to ten weeks each. Cheng says
[working in a lab as an undergraduate] gave me insight into what daily lab life was like for
academic research labs. I quickly learned that not everything works on the first try and thats
okay! I also learned some laboratory techniques, as well as other skills such as how to present
my data to a group, and how to think on my feet. She also says the most rewarding experiences
she had so far was attending the Experimental Biology Conference in San Diego. She says, It
was a great eye-opener for me to interact with so many people from all different fields. I went to
a lot of great talks by renowned scientists, got to hone my public speaking skills during my
poster presentation, and gained a lot of insight into skills such as networking and career

development. She also says she is not discouraged by statistical representation of minorities in
the science fields, thanking minority role models that have showed her the paths she can take.
She warned me about the perturbation of what she called imposter syndrome. She assures,
The feeling that everyone around you knows way more than you and for some reason youre a
total fraud is experienced by everyone and you shouldnt let it get to you.
Michelle Arbeitman says the benefits of starting a program with the intention to get a
Ph.D is that you dont pay out of pocket for it. The department ot the graduate mentor pays your
tuition and you get a stipend decent enough to cover living expenses. She talked with me about
the importance of getting in a lab early. They want to see that you have experience early on,
she said. One issue she has faced while conducting biological research is funding. Theres lots
of grant writing. Its almost like another job on top of conducting research, she said. The
National Institutes of Health have funded her biology research lab for the past 11 years.

Conclusion:
Going into this, I knew what I had to do to be a biology major on paper. 38 credit hours
of biological science coursework, 26 hours of collateral courses, and 18 hours of biological
science elective, not to mention 38 hours of other general courses required by FSU. Through this
investigation, I have discovered it is more than just hours of textbook studying. Completing a
biology degree successfully involves hours upon hours of lab work outside of the required
curriculum. This outside lab work is what makes the difference in many of the biology degree
seekers lives. In the lab is where the people I interviewed and many others, discovered what it
was in biology that really captivated their interest and how to apply concepts learned in the lab in
a day-to-day environment. You cant just do the science, you have to present the information as
well, and being able to clearly express yourself and your finding is an integral part of this

environment. Whether its writing lab reports, research papers, or grants or even speaking at
conferences to other researchers, a strong control of language is essential.
Additionally, while exploring the various directions in this field, I have discovered that I
actually dont have to go to medical school to do what I want to do, which is biomedical research
on the human body during long-term space missions. Through my discussions with Cheng, I
have learned that I dont actually even want to be a doctor, but I thought I had to be a doctor in
order to have some type of medical background to research the human body. I am adding into the
statistics mentioned in Bound and Determined about pre-med biology students dropping their
pre-med track. But this is happening because I was not informed enough to properly make a
decision about what path I needed to take in order to reach my end goal. Studying biology opens
the door to many different paths and opportunities within the field, its easy to find yourself
knocking on the wrong door.

Gratwick R, Drasgow J, Stockin B. 1962. Predicting medical school success: A ten-year study. The Journal of Experimental
Education 31(2):203-5.
FSU Biology - Undergraduate Studies - Degree Requirements. FSU Biology - Undergraduate Studies - Degree Requirements.
[accessed 2016 Sep 15]. http://www.bio.fsu.edu/undergrad/requirements.php
Horkoff MJ. 2014. A tip to pre-med students: Don't put all your eggs in the science beaker. UBC Medical Journal 5(2):16-7.
Jones MT, Barlow AEL, Villarejo M. 2010. Importance of undergraduate research for minority persistence and achievement in
biology. Journal of Higher Education 81(1):82-115.
Richardson T, Mulvihill T, Latz A. 2014. Bound and determined: Perceptions of pre-med seniors regarding their persistence in
preparing for medical school. Journal of Ethnographic & Qualitative Research. 8(4):222-238.