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 junior Julienne Sanchez, a member of the Cari Vanderpool lab and a 2024 recipient of the Dr. Walter and Loretta M. Zygmunt Microbiology Scholarship for Summer Research. 

Why did you decide to apply for a fellowship?
I had been working in the lab for a little over a semester and wanted to continue my work over the summer. I knew this would allow me more time to dedicate to my project, learn different techniques, and become more independent as a researcher.

How did you get involved in Dr. Vanderpool’s lab?
I began looking into different research labs during the second semester of freshman year. The work being done with small RNAs in Dr. Vanderpool’s lab piqued my interest since I enjoyed learning about non-coding RNAs when I took MCB 150. I reached out via email, spoke with one of the postdoctoral researchers, and filled out a BIOC 290 learning agreement with the help of my academic advisor.

Tell us about your research interests and what you’re working on this summer.
I’m studying the role of the small RNA ChiX in lowering the expression of the chiP and chiQ genes in E. coli, specifically at the level of gene transcription. I hope to use the information from my current experiments to test whether other small RNAs found in E. coli can change expression in the same manner as ChiX.

What does an average day look like for you?
I start by checking in with my mentor to go over any tasks or experiments that need to be done that day. I’ll carry out the necessary procedures and clean up afterward, asking questions as needed. I usually finish up by recording in my lab notebook the protocols, any changes made, and other relevant information. If there’s downtime, I’ll start recording information or reading papers relevant to the project.

What do you hope to gain from this experience?
I hope to continue refining my skills as a researcher and becoming more comfortable with the various techniques used in the lab.

What are your career or academic goals?
I am interested in working in research and will either apply to graduate school or spend some time working in industry after I finish my bachelor’s degree.

Do you have any advice for other undergraduates who would like to get involved in research?
If you’re not sure what kind of project you’d like to work on, try to think of any topics from your courses that you have found interesting and look for labs conducting related research.

How do you like to spend your free time? Any fun facts about yourself?
I like to read science fiction novels, write poetry, and hang out with my dogs.