Research Methods Course: Student Spotlight

I’ve been interested in aquatic and marine biology for as long as I can remember, so I was pretty excited when I found out about eDNA (environmental-DNA) and the possibility to detect species in a body of water with only water samples. The purpose of my project was to compare an older method of sampling for species using commercial trawl nets to the newer eDNA method. When the trawl nets were pulled on board I recorded the species. The eDNA method however, in the field only requires pumping water through a filter, but in the labs requires eluding of DNA from the filter, PCR, gel electrophoresis and sending out samples to be sequenced. From taking Research Methods I have learned how to elude, run the PCR and gel electrophoresis which were each crucial skills to know for my project. Taking the class has taught me many new skills and made me much more confident in lab skills I had learned previously. To anybody who could see themselves pursuing a career in science and especially in biology related fields, I cannot recommend the class enough.