After previously selecting a topic of study, this week’s work focused on selecting and researching the exact areas I would like to study this year. This week’s research assessment and speech were helpful in understanding what a career in medical research would entail, as well as some of my personal strengths and weaknesses. Through research and introspection for both assignments, I was able to take into account several factors which helped narrow down my fields of interest.

 

My research showed that there are two main research paths following graduation with a biochemistry doctorate: private and public. While I think I would enjoy either, research at a university appeals most to me because I would be working for the public interest and teaching college students, which would both challenge me and allow me to stay current on new research. I have narrowed the fields of research I am most interested in to immune and cardiothoracic disorders. Based on the sources I have read, studying immune disorders is most appealing to me. There are many labs studying these, and there is a wide variety of immune disorders including STDs and cancer. Based on this, I will look for medical professionals in one of the above fields for my contact list and focus on research studies that involve my interests.

 

In addition to helping me understand my specific goals for the year, the introductory speech and research assessment also revealed both strengths and weaknesses. In regards to my speaking skills, I discovered I excelled at not using filler words like “um” or “uh”. However, I realized I came across as rehearsed and insincere. I will work to remedy this over the course of the year by writing less of an essay and more of an outline for the speeches. Although the research assessment is not completely finished, and I have not received feedback, I am aware that I will have to work on not simply summarizing the source and instead analyzing it. Learning how to analyze a source will likely be very helpful in the future as I read other medical articles and scholarly works.

 

As a whole, the projects this week have helped further my understanding of what I would like to do for the year, and given me a basis to build on. I am excited for next week’s projects, like the contact list and website, and I believe the knowledge gained from this week will be applicable to next week and beyond.