This project represents an exciting opportunity to apply my background in biochemistry to a meaningful area of biomedical research while developing new technical and professional skills. As a senior biochemistry major at Florida State University, I am eager to contribute to a project investigating the early synaptic and cytoskeletal changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Because synapse loss is one of the earliest indicators of disease progression, understanding the mechanisms that contribute to neuronal vulnerability has the potential to advance future therapeutic strategies. Participating in this research will allow me to build upon my previous laboratory experience while expanding my knowledge of neurodegeneration, stem cell biology, and quantitative biological analysis.
The research skills I am most eager to utilize and develop involve quantitative data analysis, experimental design, image analysis, and scientific interpretation. Within the project, I will be responsible for dendritic spine classification, quantitative analysis of microscopy data, statistical evaluation of experimental results, and assisting with cell growth and differentiation. I will also establish image-analysis workflows, perform blinded measurements to reduce bias, and generate figures and summary statistics to communicate our findings. These responsibilities will strengthen my ability to analyze complex biological datasets and draw meaningful conclusions from experimental results. In addition to technical research skills, I look forward to further developing professional skills such as scientific communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and project management. Working as part of a multidisciplinary research team will require effective coordination and communication while maintaining consistent progress toward project goals.
Throughout this project, I will utilize a variety of resources available both at Florida State University and beyond. The mentorship provided by Dr. Christopher Solis and Dr. Helene Tigro will be invaluable as I learn new experimental approaches and refine my analytical skills. Their expertise in cytoskeletal protein regulation and neurodegenerative disease research will provide important guidance throughout the project. I will also rely on laboratory facilities, fluorescence microscopy equipment, image-processing software, and scientific literature databases available through FSU. Beyond university resources, I plan to regularly engage with primary research articles related to Alzheimer’s disease, synaptic dysfunction, stem cell-derived neuronal models, and actin cytoskeletal regulation. Staying informed about current discoveries in these fields will help me better understand the broader significance of our findings and place our work within the context of ongoing scientific research.
This project builds directly upon my previous research experience in Dr. Solis’s musculoskeletal and cardiac research laboratory. In that role, I performed co-immunoprecipitation assays to investigate the binding affinity between alpha-actinin and actin, which introduced me to the importance of cytoskeletal protein interactions and experimental laboratory techniques. That experience provided a strong foundation in laboratory procedures, data collection, and scientific inquiry. The current project expands upon that foundation by allowing me to study alpha-actinin within a completely different biological context: neurodegeneration. Rather than focusing on protein interactions in muscle systems, I will examine how cytoskeletal regulation influences neuronal structure and vulnerability in Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, this project will introduce me to stem cell culture, neuronal differentiation, fluorescence imaging, and advanced image-based quantitative analysis, all of which represent new areas of expertise that will broaden my scientific skill set.
Looking ahead, I believe one of my greatest opportunities for growth will be developing expertise in analyzing large imaging datasets and interpreting subtle biological changes in neuronal morphology. While I am confident in my laboratory skills and my ability to follow experimental protocols, image-based neuroscience research presents new analytical challenges that differ from my previous work. Because the project is still in its early stages and we are currently preparing reagents and beginning stem cell expansion, there will also be a learning curve associated with establishing standardized workflows and ensuring consistency across experiments. To address these challenges, I plan to seek regular feedback from my mentors, carefully review relevant scientific literature, and collaborate closely with my fellow researchers. I will also dedicate time to mastering image-analysis software and statistical methods so that I can confidently generate accurate and reproducible results.
This research experience aligns closely with my long-term career goals. After completing my education, I hope to pursue a career within the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry, ultimately helping bridge scientific innovation and business strategy to make life-saving therapies more accessible to patients. Participating in this project will strengthen my understanding of the research process from hypothesis development through data analysis and interpretation. The scientific and professional skills I gain will provide valuable preparation for future opportunities in biomedical research and industry. By contributing to research focused on Alzheimer’s disease, I will not only expand my technical expertise but also deepen my appreciation for the translational impact that scientific discovery can have on human health.
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