This past semester I was fortunate to have the opportunity to continue my research in the lab of Dr. Mariella De Biasi. Although my project took a few slight turns due to the pandemic, as a scientist, I was fully equipped to adapt to and embrace the challenges and change.
The current opioid epidemic and concurrent rise in e-cigarette popularity made it critical to further investigate the relationship between these drug classes. My project involved using mice as an animal model to develop a paradigm for nicotine and opioid co-drug dependence. This involved exposing mice to nicotine or vehicle vapor each day via e-cigarette delivery. After this pre-exposure period, vapor exposure continued while mice were given continuous access to 2 bottles, one that contained morphine, an opioid, and another that just contained saccharin, a sweet liquid. Finally, vapor exposure was discontinued while these 2 bottles remained available for an additional 2 weeks. My experience working on this project was enriching and informative. I learned various scientific techniques, including preparing solutions, utilizing the e-cigarette vapor delivery system, and cryosectioning/staining/preparing brain slices. I also immersed myself in data analysis and learned how to interpret and assess the data and results I gathered in the lab.
Concurrently taking neuroscience classes such as ‘Drugs, Brain, and Mind’ while conducting my research made my time in the De Biasi lab extremely rewarding and I am grateful for the opportunity. I grew as both a student and scientist and realized my passion for research. I am excited to pursue a career in the field of academia and to continue asking and answering important questions. I could not have done this without the constant support of my research mentors, Mariella and Kate, and the generous support of CURF and the Goldfeder Family Undergraduate Research Grant.
This past semester I was fortunate to have the opportunity to continue my research in the lab of Dr. Mariella De Biasi. Although my project took a few slight turns due to the pandemic, as a scientist, I was fully equipped to adapt to and embrace the challenges and change.
The current opioid epidemic and concurrent rise in e-cigarette popularity made it critical to further investigate the relationship between these drug classes. My project involved using mice as an animal model to develop a paradigm for nicotine and opioid co-drug dependence. This involved exposing mice to nicotine or vehicle vapor each day via e-cigarette delivery. After this pre-exposure period, vapor exposure continued while mice were given continuous access to 2 bottles, one that contained morphine, an opioid, and another that just contained saccharin, a sweet liquid. Finally, vapor exposure was discontinued while these 2 bottles remained available for an additional 2 weeks. My experience working on this project was enriching and informative. I learned various scientific techniques, including preparing solutions, utilizing the e-cigarette vapor delivery system, and cryosectioning/staining/preparing brain slices. I also immersed myself in data analysis and learned how to interpret and assess the data and results I gathered in the lab.
Concurrently taking neuroscience classes such as ‘Drugs, Brain, and Mind’ while conducting my research made my time in the De Biasi lab extremely rewarding and I am grateful for the opportunity. I grew as both a student and scientist and realized my passion for research. I am excited to pursue a career in the field of academia and to continue asking and answering important questions. I could not have done this without the constant support of my research mentors, Mariella and Kate, and the generous support of CURF and the Goldfeder Family Undergraduate Research Grant.