Corinne Bogan

12/15/16
Biswas Lab Reflection

My experience in Dr. Biswas’s lab was a very interesting and informative one.
Throughout the semester, I have seen the day-to-day workings of a research lab, and
exciting progress in just my few weeks here. Working alongside with Dr. Biswas’s
research assistants, I have learned techniques, procedures, and biotechnical
processes I would not have been exposed to otherwise. I learned a little about each
Research Assistant, their focus in the lab, and the education they have.

Perhaps the highlight of my experience in the lab was working alongside the
research assistants here in the lab. Jazzlyn Jones attended Thomas Jefferson
University for undergrad and studied biotechnology. She completed a masters
degree in Biotechnology as well. Meera Patel attended Rutgers University as an
undergraduate studying cell biology, neuroscience, and psychology and went on to
get her masters degree in biomedical sciences. She is now pursuing a P.h.D at
University of Delaware. Albtool Attended a University in Saudi Arabia studying
Biotechnology and then completed her Master’s degree at Thomas Jefferson as well.
Joscelyn Korf also attended Thomas Jefferson for her undergraduate and Masters
degrees. Their official job title is a Lab Assistant or Research Assistant. Most RA
positions require a bachelors or masters degree in Biotechnology or a similar
science and lab experience.

Each Research Assistant worked with a different protein from a domain of an ABC
transporter. Albtool is working with a protein from the brain that is related to
Alzheimer’s disease , and Joscelyn, Jazz, and Meera are working with one located in
the membrane of the rods (photoreceptors in the eye) associated with Stargardt’s
disease. The general procedure is to test the functionality of the protein, and how it
affects the role of transport of substrates and molecules in the eye/brain. To do this,
each research assistant would first induce the protein, extract whole cell lysate, and
purify it to test it. If the protein could not be solubilized, then the protein would
need to be denatured, solubilized by breaking intermolecular bonds, and then
refolded, ran through a dialysis procedure, and then concentrated. These steps of
course have sub steps and processes that need to happen and be corrected in
between each step. Getting a protein concentrated could take months of work.

Throughout the semester, I was able to help the lab assistants with some of these
processes. I learned how to made the 2XYT media, use an autoclave, make an SDS
gel, load it with protein, and run the gel electrophoresis. Below is a few photos of me
doing so 
Corinne Bogan
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Corinne Bogan
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I also learned how to compare the protein band patterns to the control and the
markers, and to make media plates with agar.

This information proved to be useful for as I was using these techniques, I

remembered learning them in class. It was helpful to be able to apply what I’ve
learned in class to the lab work, and I think this connection will help me with these
procedures and ideas in future classes. It was also helpful to use these procedures in
a setting outside of class. Some of the techniques and procedures I did in Dr.
Biswas’s lab I had previously done in class, however I felt like I was relearning them
because it was in an unrushed setting with one-on-one help from the research
assistants. To be able to take my time to complete these procedures and receive
detailed explanations from the Research Assistants about what they were used for
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12/15/16
and what to expect from them definitely aided my understanding. The experience I
have gained from this semester in lab I feel will also help me to receive jobs or
research opportunities in the future that can help with my PA school application and
resume.

I am so thankful for the opportunitity to learn in Dr. Biswas’s lab, I truly feel that it
has furthered my education and understanding of biotechnology and biomedical
sciences.