Author: Ashley Ezeldin | Major: Biology | Semester: Fall 2024
My name is Ashley Ezeldin and I am a Biology major in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. I am a pre-medical student and I am currently in my fall semester of my senior year in college. My mentor is Dr. Kral, who is in the department of biological sciences. He specializes in microbiology and conducts research on methanogens and the implication they could have for life on Mars. I plan to finish my Spring 2025 semester by writing my thesis and presenting it to the Honors College Board. I am currently undergoing medical school interviews, and I hope to attend one in the fall, following my college graduation.
I believe my research holds significant impact as it explores life beyond just the plant we occupy. Methanogens, which are a class of methane producing archaea, can survive in extreme conditions. This allows them to be a good model to test their survival on Mars’s surface components in the research lab. The components used in the media of my research include montmorillonite clay and basalt, which have been proven to be a part of the composition of Mars. By regularly measuring the methane produced by these organisms using a gas chromatograph, I am able to track their growth and make inferences accordingly. This research provides valuable insights into whether living organisms could exist on Mars and broadens our understanding of the planet’s potential ecosystem. Studies like the ones Dr. Kral directs are crucial to advance our understanding of life beyond Earth and to better educate ourselves of the solar system we occupy.
As I have just recently finished collecting data for my thesis, I have reflected on my journey through this research process. I have learned an abundant amount of skills that have advanced my critical thinking, my scientific writing, and my ability to think beyond what is in front of me so I can better understand the data as a whole. I have gained patience and gratitude for unexpected results along my journey, due to the fact that they can provide insight that was not seen prior. In addition, I have learned how to properly use a gas chromatograph to read data and how to inoculate media, which is vital to the future research I plan to do in medical school.
My research director, Dr. Kral, played a significant role as a mentor during my whole research journey. He taught me how to properly use the equipment I would need for my research and assisted me through many critical points in developing the next steps for my project. Dr. Kral has also assisted me in reviewing my data and making conclusions based on the results. He has encouraged me to think outside the box and has shown me how to use prior knowledge and research to make conclusions about my specific research. I am very grateful for his insight and guidance through the past two years, and I value the skills and knowledge he has taught me throughout my research project.
Next semester will be my final semester at the University of Arkansas. I plan to spend next semester analyzing data and drawing conclusions, so I can begin writing my thesis. I plan to present my thesis in April, and graduate the following May of 2025. I hope to spend my summer traveling and exploring new adventures before I begin my next chapter in medical school in the fall of 2025.