Academic Update

I'm two/three weeks into my second semester at UTMB. I finished my first semester with a couple of exams and the requisite stress fest. But I'm very happy to report that I received A's in both of my graded courses and I am now a 4.0 student! I don't think I've ever had a 4.0, so I'm kinda excited!

This semester I'm taking two half semester courses, Immunology (first 8 weeks) and Microbiology (2nd 8 weeks). I was going to take a Cancer class but not enough people signed up for the class, so I ended up in only Immunolgy this 8-weeks. I'm kind of loving only having one class!

I started my 1st lab rotation on the 4th. I'm in Dr. Boehning's lab, he is the Chair of the Department of Cell Biology. Here is his website: http://boehninglab.org/default.aspx
He does apoptosis research. Apoptosis is when a cell kills its self from the inside in a controlled manner. This happens normally in a lot of situations, but a lot of neurodegenerative diseases are caused by too much apoptosis, and tumors can grow when there isn't enough apoptosis. I am working on an ovarian cancer project, looking at BRCA1 mutant ovarian cells that are resistant to paclitaxel (the normally chemotherapeutic agent).

In March I will start in Dr. Pomila Singh's lab. http://hiss.utmb.edu/ncb/faculty/PomilaSingh.asp

Thats all for now!

Its been a while.....

so.... I know, I started this with every intention of keeping it going but clearly I'm not good at that. So in the spirit of the New Year I'll try again.

I think I'm just going to put up some pictures from the last few months ..... a picture is worth a thousand words you know.

A classmate of mine, Lynn, and I went to the Pasadena Rodeo in October.... It was amazing. WE bought boots before we went, then after we went to the dance hall and learned how to two step. All of the pictures are in an album on Facebook, but here are the real gems:

Oliver: The biggest animal I think I've ever seen. (Well maybe except at a zoo)

Bull riding: Very hard to get good pictures because its so quick.

Best dinner EVER: Barbecue baked potato (yes, a baked potato with barbecue on top) and strawberry lemonade! (With a bendy straw of course!)
My new boots: very tight, so I had to use a plastic bag to get them on.


Melissa came to visit in October (maybe September?)
We went to Houston one night, and then visited the amazing Galleria mall.... it has an ICE SKATING RINK!

Melissa and Mitch got married over thanksgiving break.... I would have pictures of that, but those pesky photographers won't let you steal pictures from their site!

We ended the first semester with exams the week of the 14th. We celebrated by going to The Spot.... one of my faves. Here's a picture on the patio of the restaurant. Notice: LACK OF WAVES!

VERY interesting bunch to say the least! Then I was off to NC for Christmas!

Well thats all for now. Hopefully more VERY VERY SOON!