Endgame

Typically research happens over periods of time with different grants and programs.  At the ends of these periods finished projects are expected, questions answered, and some results, conclusions, and discussions are conveyed.  In this regard of time period with end deliverables, a research project ends.  However, the idea and concept of the experiment does not disappear and in this sense, a research project will never end.  There will always be questions, the improvement of methods, and more information to be sought.  It is with these deliverables from research that society is able to create building blocks for future endeavers.

Therefore, when considering the end of a project one of the first considerations is the data.  Is it meaningful or not and why?  If a project collected data from contaminated samples then this situation cannot truly tell one reliable information on a phenomenon.  Part of determining whether or not data is meaningful also depends on how the meaningful is determined.  In problem solving, when a goal or solution is sought, conditions for reliable and successful solutions are also defined.  Consider the behavior box experiment.  The goal of the experiment was to create a box that allowed flexibility in the traditional way of training mice to later be studied using optogenetics that was automated.  Therefore, success is based on whether the box can function in the old sense of training with the mice and also if it allows some flexibility for the mice as well as the fact that its parts must all be automated to collect data.  As the project is drawing to a close the box is just about complete.  However, since the box is still being completed then it has yet to be fully tested with the mice and therefore there is no data yet for the box.  The data will be seen at a later time period after training the mice and observing the results of the training.  It is important to note that once the data is collected, that it is considered meaningful and successful if the mice are trained in the box successfully and if the box is able to take automated data.

Another aspect of a project's ending is to reflect on the project as a whole, its obstacles and its accomplishments.  Such reflections happen both internally in the scientist when considering what has happened in the project as well as externally through outlets like discussions in science papers.  To reach considering the project as a whole a prudent first step is to consider the various hurdles that took place.  In the behavior box experiment there were several challenges along the way.  The first major obstacle was in the research for the materials, in finding all the required parts with the correct dimensions and decent pricing.  The solution to this was patience and determination.  The second major challenge was the actual design for the port for the mice.  The issue was that none of the ports for the nose pokes that the lab had were large enough to allow all of the mice to poke through and set off the sensors.  Therefore, to solve this problem there was a brainstorming session and then the making of several ports.  After testing the ports and seeing the reactions of the test mice, some changes were made.  It was tested again a couple of times until the final port was decided on and then implemented.  The final major hurdle in this project was creating the ability for the ports to have the ability to be at two different distances from each other.  To solve this problem again there was brainstorming as well as making small prototypes of what was desired.  After some prototypes and discussions a layout was decided upon and that became the final model for the box.  Realizing such obstacles in research and taking the time to analyze both the challenges, solutions, and the processes to reach  a solution can help in future decision making for both the experiment and the scientist.  By using problem solving skills and critical thinking, both problems in the lab and out of the lab can be tackled and dealt with.

Another aspect of finishing research is the final days in the research lab.  This is a careful balance of continuing the research as well as working on the deliverables for the moment that the research project is finished.  Therefore, the last week is an amalgam between finishing up your project, organizing your area and materials, working on the presentations or posters or papers, and making sure that all of the work has been carefully documented.  The documentation and procedures are important to record because once one has left the lab there is still research and other projects being studied.  If one wrote a computer program and then did not tell anyone how it worked, if something needed to be changed or added the lab would have to try and figure out what the program involved or start over with a new program which would consume more time and energy than needed.  It is reasonable to expect one's final week then will be a lot of paperwork and the combinations of the research with how the research shall be presented.

It is important to use one's time wisely during this period because a lot of work and discussion takes place.  When writing up presentations, posters, and papers for research it is a discussion, a collaboration, and a cooperation with members of the lab both to check how the research is being presented as well as if the facts are portrayed properly as well as to catch any parts that need more clarification.  The purpose of sharing scientific research is so that others can either work collaboratively on joint research or can use information to enhance their own.  For either of these purposes however, communication is paramount to success where lucid and descriptive presentations are desired and necessary.  Research that is not understandable helps no one.

Research and Impact

Whenever one starts a new activity or challenge in life it affects the person who undertook it.  This change can happen in small ways or large ways but it happens.  Then how does research fall into this catagory?  Most people, when they think about research and scientists consider an image of a man who is middle aged or older with some facial hair who's unkempt, wearing a white lab coat, and typically with scientific instruments or equipment, books, filing cabinets along with some phrase like eureka or formulae (here is a study that includes a section on the public image of scientists).  However there is so much more to scientists, where they work and who they are.  An example would be the lab in which the current project is being worked on.  Professor Han's lab is filled with diverse people who all enjoy their research but also enjoy other activities as well.  In terms of research, while it does involve a lot of work as well as books, equipment, and filing cabinets to keep everything organized and perform experiments, there is so much more to research.  It involves a creative mind to approach problems and it involves a lot of cooperation and collaboration, research is social.

Having entered a research lab, one learns more about scientists, research, and one's own competence in research.  After one has entered a lab, worked in it, and had the chance to assimilate, a wonderful event occurs.  Research can be done!  The trick with research is to endure, be open and willing to learn, and to try one's best.  If this is done then a niche can be made in the lab.  Research is definitely challenging but so are numerous other things.  It is a great experience to enter a lab and to then develop a sense of competence through such an experience.

The research experience can be brought to the classroom as well, a way to disseminate information.  Research is a mix of times of patience and hardwork and times of problem solving and creativity.  Having moments in the classroom with problem based learning is a way to convey some of the ideas involved with research in the classroom.  These introduce problems and then encourage creative and critical thinking just as research does in a lab.  Another way is to have moments that require looking up information and then critically considering the information, not just to write down every fact that appears but to analyze and filter it.  Just like in research, it is important to know which information is pertinant for a project.  Bringing in ideas and topics in modern day research is way to bring research to the classroom while connecting to the present day and making information more modern.

There is a lot involved with research and it is a fun and extraordinary journey to explore.

Lab Meetings

In many labs, there are group meetings for the entire lab.  How often these happen depends on each individual lab as well as schedules.  For this research group, these meetings happen an average of once per week.  However these meetings can happen more frequently if there is a lot of work to be done on a project and less often if members of the lab are going to conferences, working more independently on their own separate projects, or are time crunched in activities that are time sensative.

What can happen in a group meeting?  These meetings can be used as a way to check in with some of the other projects happening in the lab, as there are typically several projects happening in one lab.  An example would be several members of the lab group giving short couple minute presentations on what they have been doing, some data, and other important points for their project.  This not only informs the rest of the group what is happening but also opens it up to the group to help talk out possible problems and offer an outside eye to the project.

Another way group meetings can be used is to share information.  If the lab is a neuroengineering lab, such as the one with the current project, then having weekly talks about the different parts of the brain and how they function.  These would be beneficial for the whole lab and are good general knowledge for all of the members to develop.  These meetings also give valuable experience for the presenting members since giving talks in science is an important media of communications in the scientific community.

Group meetings are also used to disseminate information.  These can be used to inform members if and when other events are happening as well as updates or changes in protocol.  Members from the lab can even demonstrate a technique which is important for the whole lab to understand.

These meetings also help to build a sense of community in the lab.  During the last group meeting professor Han made a great statement about the lab: that any problems are not just those of the individual member but are something that are a part of the whole lab, it should not just be someone else's problem.  She is very encouraging of the individual members as well as the members as a whole.  Research is both cooperation and collaboration between people and it is important to foster a community that allows both.