Newly Made Media!
Author: Ashley Ezeldin | Major: Biology | Semester: Spring 2024
My name is Ashley Ezeldin and I am a pre-medical student in the Fulbright Honors College. My major is biology, which led me to study in a microbiology lab for my thesis. My research director is Dr. Timothy Kral, who works in the microbiology department. During this semester, I created new media, with varying amounts of basalt and montmorillonite clay, all which are inoculated with methanogens. I have also recorded methane growth biweekly on my test tubes in a gas chromatograph to monitor their survival through increased time. During my next semester, I plan to finish collecting data and observe trends to form an educated analysis of my project. I also plan to begin forming my thesis and analyzing further resources to help me interpret a broader idea of my data from the lab.
My research is very impactful, due to the fact it relates to living organisms on other planets. Methane is a specific type of anaerobic bacteria that can live in extreme conditions, like that of neighboring planets. The growth of methane species on montmorillonite and basalt, resembles the composite of the surface of Mars. Testing to see growth and survival, can help us understand if living species are able to survive on other planets. It can also give us a broader idea of the ecosystem on Mars and the living components of the planet. This is not only extremely interesting, but also is a vital component in advancing our understanding of organisms that live, or can live outside of Earth.
I began this project by looking at the research database on the University website, and reading about different professors and their research interests. I recognized Dr. Kral from a previous class I had taken with him and reached out due to the familiarity and interest in his research field. Following this, Dr. Kral agreed to be my mentor and we formed a tailored project that was unique to me. I have learned so many interesting things about different types of bacterias and their needs for survival and growth. I have also learned more about Mars and the unique components of its surface that allow for certain species to grow, which is a promising lead toward the conclusion of a form of life on Mars. I have learned that I have a deep passion for research and a vast amount of curiosity, which drives my work. I have learned many analytical techniques as well, including how to take readings on a gas chromatograph and how to prepare and autoclave media. My research director has played a huge role in teaching me these necessary skills which I will apply in my future career. He has also been very resourceful and guided me through the process by answering any questions I might have. Next semester, I plan to finish gathering data for my thesis. I also plan to begin taking a deeper look into the numerical values and analyzing it to form a conclusion and a story. I hope to gain insightful knowledge on how to better my scientific writing and analyzing skills as I prepare my thesis to present.