Undergraduate Research- Lauren Foley
Friday, November 4, 2011
Hometown: Tulsa
Major and College: Zoology (Pre-Med) and Spanish; Arts & Sciences
Research Project: Social Recognition, Spatial Context, and Monogamy in Prairie Voles
Assisting faculty member: Alex Ophir, Ph.D., Zoology
Which research award did you receive? Wentz Research Award
What have you gained from your research experience?
Research has allowed me to encounter and apply more areas of science than just what
I would experience in my major. I have gotten a better idea about the possibilities
that research offers as well as how vast the research community is. Through Freshman
Research Scholars and now my Wentz Project, I have acquired better presentational
skills, research techniques, networking opportunities, and a passion for a scientific
education.
What has been your experience with the faculty you have been working with on the
project?
Working with Dr. Ophir has been fantastic! I joined his lab as a Freshman Research
Scholar and have really grown to like his field of research. He has offered me lots
of guidance along the way to find ways to make new discoveries and explore what I
am interested in finding out with the voles. I have also worked with his graduate
student, David Zheng, who has taught me new research techniques and helped me relate
what I do to the overall goal of the Ophir lab’s research.
How do you think this experience will prepare you for your chosen field after college?
Participating in research has actually altered my chosen field after college. I would
still like to go into a medical career, but now I am focusing on opportunities for
medical research. Having research experience will help me better understand the science
behind what I learn later on and will make me more well-rounded as a prospective medical
student.