A Burgeoning Beginning

This week, I mainly worked on my original work product, and I found it to be a struggle to start. Of course, I originally made a detailed product proposal, but I had to figure out some challenges with the genetic databases I was utilizing. Firstly, I switched from starting with albinism to cystic fibrosis, as the former was missing some database information that I needed. With cystic fibrosis, I faced two challenges, which I figured out through my observations. However, the third challenge was interpreting the data presented by a different database, which I will need to work on next week.

I had my first official mentor meeting with Dr. Sullivan last Friday, and we went over our expectations for future meetings, caught up with each other, and also... discussed my original work. I was dissapointed I could not get the proposal for the product before winter break, since I might have to ride or die with it now. We both agreed that something more clinically-based might be more relevant to clinical genetics and also more interesting, rather than one solely based on databases. After the meeting, I was considering to trash my current original work proposal, since I am not confident about it anymore. There are two problems, however, which are:

• knowing if I can even change original work ideas this late and also

• how I will design this new idea

My solution to the first problem was an email to Mr. Pirtle, who I hope responds soon. The second will require a second mentor meeting and also a few days to devise the new product proposal.

I am quite happy with my mentor, Dr. Sullivan, as she's eager to teach me new, interesting topics with genetics, discuss her patients, and even more. I'm sure it will be a fun ride, and clinical geneticist operating it is someone who I can use to my advantage!