One of my earliest memories from this research project was being in the lab, standing over a plate of tiny wells, trying to find the brain sections at the bottom. They were so thin and delicate I couldn't even tell if anything was there. We were starting the staining process, which meant gently washing the tissue with different solutions, carefully pipetting the liquid out, and repeating that multiple times. I remember being so nervous that I would accidentally suction up the section. Everything had to be done slowly and precisely. That was my first glimpse into how careful this research would have to be.
My project focused on how serotonin 1A receptors influence neurogenesis, the process of generating new neurons in the brain. I studied the dentate gyrus (DG), a region in the hippocampus involved in memory and emotion. In neonatal mice, the DG is still actively producing new neurons. I wanted to understand whether serotonin 1A receptor signaling plays a role in this process, and whether it's connected to a protein called protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε), which supports early brain development.
We used fluorescent staining to label specific cell types. Hoechst stained all nuclei blue, Ki67 labeled dividing cells in red, and DCX highlighted immature neurons in green. Using a confocal microscope, I scanned through the depth of the tissue from top to bottom to capture z-stacks, which allowed us to build 3D images of the DG. The goal was to visualize patterns of neurogenesis and determine how these molecular signals might be involved.
While I could recognize the DG in the tissue fairly quickly, interpreting the imaging was much harder. The microscope produced detailed images full of blue, red, and green-stained cells, but figuring out what those meant, whether cells were dividing, immature, or overlapping, took a lot of trial and error. It wasn't just about getting a picture. It was about understanding what I was looking at and what it revealed about neurogenesis in the brain.
At first, the idea of doing a capstone like this was intimidating. I didn't know how I was going to manage something with so many unfamiliar steps like staining, imaging, and data analysis. But once I started and focused on one step at a time, it became easier. The repetition helped me build confidence, and every small success made the next part less scary. I learned to troubleshoot, stay patient, and adapt when things didn't go as planned.
What I appreciated most about this project was how it brought together all the areas I've studied. I've always been interested in how brain development relates to behavior. This project gave me the chance to explore that connection from a molecular perspective while gaining real lab experience that challenged me in ways I wasn't expecting.
One of the most rewarding parts was seeing a clean, focused image of the DG with clearly stained cells in blue, red, and green, each one representing a piece of the story. After all the hours spent preparing, staining, imaging, and redoing steps, those moments felt like a payoff.
I'm especially grateful to Josie, who worked closely with me in the lab and taught me every step of the process, helping me feel more confident over time. And thank you to my mentor, Dr. Banerjee, for the opportunity to work on this research and for supporting the project throughout the year.
This capstone reminded me that growth doesn't happen all at once. It happens through small steps, constant problem-solving, and showing up even when you're unsure. It taught me how to stay focused, work carefully, and recognize how much I was growing along the way. It's an experience I'll always carry with me.
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