Over the summer, Senior Lior Sela participated in a five-week Science Research Initiative (SRI) program at Rutgers University, centered around neuron growth and death factors. They and another student worked closely with the PhD students and university professor who mentored them. Throughout the program, they ran experiments, tested genes from previously collected samples, and prepared sliced-up brain tissue for observation. 

A large part of their work involved staining samples: attaching proteins and antibodies to tissues, then adding fluorescent indicators to highlight the different proteins. This process allowed them to observe how neurons function under a microscope during various stages of development. 

The team also experimented with editing different genes to understand how it can affect neurons. Overall, Sela said “I loved the experience. I thought it was a really good hands-on method of learning.” 

From this opportunity, Sela gained a clearer understanding of how research is conducted in a lab setting, and that it deepened their interest in scientific research.