This summer we're profiling recipients of summer undergraduate research fellowships to learn about their academic interests and glance into their daily lives as undergraduate researchers.

Today we're speaking with MCB senior Lauren Lane, a member of the Claudio Grosman lab and a 2024 recipient of the Jenner Family Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.

Why did you decide to apply for a fellowship?
I wanted to continue the research I started last year and use it for my senior thesis.

How did you get involved in Dr. Grosman’s lab?
I’m a student in the MCB Honors Concentration, and the honors coordinator had sent an email last summer on behalf of Dr. Grosman, who was looking for help with cell lines. That’s how I got started, and my involvement has grown over time.

Tell me about your research interests and what you’re working on this summer.
I am interested in cell function at a molecular-approaching-atomic level. I am studying ion channels, including nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. My project is related to cholesterol, so there are relevant health applications.

What does an average day look like for you?
Each day is a little different, but our lab has a weekly schedule. I usually run experiments three or four days a week. Tuesdays are a longer experiment day, and benchwork takes up most of the time. Outside of that, I’m reading the literature, interpreting the previous day’s results, and planning what I want to do next. I talk a lot with my PI to keep learning about the field.

What do you hope to gain from this experience?
The experience of planning my own experiments and being more involved with the decision-making processes. I get to work like a real scientist. And this fall, I’m hoping to present at the MCB Symposium.

What are your career or academic goals?
I’d like to get my PhD, so I’ve been looking at graduate schools.

Do you have any advice for other undergraduates who would like to get involved in research?
Emailing works; that’s how I got interviews with multiple labs and was able to choose the one that best fit my interests. I created a student research profile to include with every email, and I think that helped. The process of finding a lab seems scary, but keep in mind that a lot of other people are doing it too.

How do you like to spend your free time? Any fun facts about yourself?
I’m not taking any courses this summer, so I have a lot of extra time at night. I like to run, read, and go to the ARC pool.