Kristen Bouma
Lab affiliation: Mark lab
Degree(s) you hold: BSc Biology
Degree being sought (M.Sc./Ph.D.): MSc
Hometown (City, Country—list multiple if you have them!): Robertville, New-Brunswick, Canada
Your research project in one sentence: Modifications of an engineered enzyme for delivery across the blood-brain barrier.
Degree(s) you hold: BSc Biology
Degree being sought (M.Sc./Ph.D.): MSc
Hometown (City, Country—list multiple if you have them!): Robertville, New-Brunswick, Canada
Your research project in one sentence: Modifications of an engineered enzyme for delivery across the blood-brain barrier.
What do you do to relax when you have a lazy day at home?
It depends on the day, but I usually like to curl up with a good book or go out for a run.
What are you most excited about for 2021? Goals?
Graduating hopefully! And getting to see family and friends back home!
What techniques do you/will you most often use in your project?
Most of what I do in lab consists of cell culture work and protein work.
What's one silly mistake you've made in the lab?
I was designing a synthetic DNA strand and sent the sequence for codon optimization. After attempting to clone the synthetic DNA into a plasmid several, I realized I had accidentally codon optimized my cut sites. Definitely did not make that mistake again!
What are any current problems you are having with your research?
I don’t currently have any problems with my research per se, but one thing I have found challenging over the last year was learning to work from home. I always used to do my schoolwork in the library and home was for relaxing. I have definitely gotten much better and more used to it as time goes on though.
What did you hope to get out of grad school in the beginning compared to now?
I didn’t have any lab experience when I started grad school, so I mainly just wanted to learn how to do basic techniques and gain experience working in a lab. Now I hope to keep working on my problem-solving skills.
It depends on the day, but I usually like to curl up with a good book or go out for a run.
What are you most excited about for 2021? Goals?
Graduating hopefully! And getting to see family and friends back home!
What techniques do you/will you most often use in your project?
Most of what I do in lab consists of cell culture work and protein work.
What's one silly mistake you've made in the lab?
I was designing a synthetic DNA strand and sent the sequence for codon optimization. After attempting to clone the synthetic DNA into a plasmid several, I realized I had accidentally codon optimized my cut sites. Definitely did not make that mistake again!
What are any current problems you are having with your research?
I don’t currently have any problems with my research per se, but one thing I have found challenging over the last year was learning to work from home. I always used to do my schoolwork in the library and home was for relaxing. I have definitely gotten much better and more used to it as time goes on though.
What did you hope to get out of grad school in the beginning compared to now?
I didn’t have any lab experience when I started grad school, so I mainly just wanted to learn how to do basic techniques and gain experience working in a lab. Now I hope to keep working on my problem-solving skills.