Zuhayra Mohamed

• SOAR Position: Member
• Major: Biology and Physiology
• Faculty Mentor(s): Dr. Cole Easson

Current Focus: If there is a change in sponge DNA if we alter their environment

Project Description

There was a collection of marine Aplysina sponges that had their environment changed via temperature, acidity, and their health. We have the before and after of all 63 samples to see if their DNA was altered.

Why does this topic interest you?

Sea life has always interested. It first started when I found out that clownish change genders based on their size of their school.

What are your professional aspirations?

My goal is go to get a Masters in Biotechnology before going to med school to achieve a MD/PhD degree. I want to then work at a research hospital to incorporate sea life into medicine.

Do you have any advice for future researchers?

Do not be afraid to speak up and interact with your professors. Speaking from experience, I get scared making the first move, but one thing I do not regret is finding a professor who teaches lecture and a lab section. Sitting near the front for both lecture and lab got me to really connect with my professor on a personal level, as well as asking him lots of questions. Always put your best foot forward with your professor and speak to them about their research journey early on in the semester. This helped me stand out with my research professor, and he offered me a position in his lab on the last day of class! If a wallflower like me can do it, you can too!

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