Lab opens doors for an undergrad experience
For most college freshmen, working in a lab typically means following the step-by-step instructions of class assignments with the goal of performing a specific experiment to produce a predetermined result. But a handful of Harvard freshmen got the chance to experience real lab work by exploring how altering genes in yeast affected the cells’ functions. Created by postdoctoral fellow James Martenson and Vlad Denic, a professor of molecular and cellular biology, the Wintersession class was designed to give undergraduates an up-close-and-personal view of the research that takes place in Harvard labs, and the opportunities they have to take part. “Students often aren’t aware these opportunities exist, so we think of this as a gateway for freshmen interested in doing research,” Martenson said. “But we also wanted to emphasize some of the critical thinking skills we use every day as scientists, but which may not be emphasized as much in more traditional coursework.” Over the...