Final thoughts...
So this is the end of the program. For all it was worth, I really enjoyed being a part of this program. Despite how it might seem from my blog posts, I was pretty serious about the work I did and I enjoyed the research I was involved with. It was definitely worth coming here in the summer for eight weeks, working 9-5 and contributing to a project with real, lasting effect on people. I met people who work with solving these problems every day - some great, smart people who were also very down-to-earth and fun. I played some basketball with some of the guys in the lab, talked about music, movies, sports, and science. Though they aren't always the most prominent people involved in treating the problems of people with various medical ailments, these people are working in the trenches, figuring out how to solve these problems, assuming that there are solutions. Sometimes, even the best ideas, on which they have spent unbelievable amounts of time and energy and money, fall apart. Research is about risks and patience.
Perhaps the highlight of my experience as a Howard Hughes Research Fellow came on the last day. My PI, Dr. Grill, was unable to come to the poster session and luncheon. However, I was still able to see him aftewards and showed him my work. We had a great discussion about my work and methods to refine the research further. As a lab, we all discussed our interests: music, movies, sports, books....But we all worked together to pursue our common passion for science. When it came down to it, science drove everything that we did and was the basis for the greatest conversation I had during the research experience. Though my poster was at least double the size of every poster in the lab hallway, Dr. Grill had me put it up along with his own posters.
Overall, I must say that I enjoyed this experience and am very grateful for being able to take part in it.
