Community Spotlight

Lade Majofodun

I’m a Junior Nursing Student whose minor is Chemistry. For the past year, I have been doing laboratory research for Dr Karen Almeida, an assistant professor of Chemistry in the Physical Sciences Department. The research is focused on the repair of damaged DNA and its effect on the stability of the genome. Specifically, the lab is interested in the Bloom Syndrome gene (BLM) and how it stabilizes the genome. Deletion of BLM is responsible for Bloom Syndrome, a human autosomal recessive disorder that causes photosensitivity, immunodeficiency, susceptibility to various forms of cancer, and growth deficiency, among others.

This research opportunity has helped expand my horizons. I have learned many research techniques, including expression & purification of proteins, western blotting, electrophoresis, and Coomassie staining. Research has opened a world of insight to some of the mysteries I have encountered in the classroom and elsewhere. For example, last semester (Fall 2006) we learned the different diagnostic methods for HIV infection in a nursing class, and western blotting was one of them. This was particularly exciting to me because I didn’t have to just memorize the material. My learning experience was enriched because I actually knew how the technique is done. If there is anything I will forget about what I learned in that class, western blotting as a diagnostic method for HIV infection wouldn’t be one of them!

Our research group usually meets once a week and each person makes a PowerPoint presentation to discuss the project he or she worked on since the last meeting. One of the benefits of these meetings is that it has helped improve my public presentation skills which can be applied to many areas of my life.

I would definitely recommend research to students who are interested in extending their learning experiences beyond the classroom environment. Apart from the personal enrichment derived from research, it is also a great thing to add to ones resume.