Meet our Summer Students: Brittany Melvin and Maria Penagos Gonzalez!
Brittany Melvin: Uncovering Genetic Mysteries with Fruit Flies—My Summer in the Lab
This summer, I had the unique opportunity to explore the fascinating world of fruit fly research as part of a project focused on understanding a rare genetic disorder, Lopes-Maciel-Rodan Syndrome (LOMARS). Thanks to the ENRRICH Summer Studentship, I spent my summer working in Dr. Paul Marcogliese’s lab, where I not only learned a lot about genetics and neurodevelopmental disorders but also discovered the value of teamwork, creativity, and perseverance in scientific research.
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The Project: Investigating LOMARS through Flies
LOMARS is a developmental disorder caused by changes in the HTT gene, the same gene implicated in Huntington’s disease. My summer research focused on building the molecular tools needed to study LOMARS. Specifically, I worked on creating plasmids—small, circular pieces of DNA that carry the instructions for producing the human HTT gene or the LOMARS-causing variants. These plasmids will eventually be injected into fly embryos to create the fly models, setting the stage for future experiments. Although I won’t be the researcher to carry out the actual genetic crosses in flies, my work lays the foundation for the next steps. It is exciting to think that while I may not see the finished fly models myself, someone else will carry on the project through its next phases —almost like leaving a little scientific legacy behind.
In a side project, I worked with flies directly, crossing two different versions of the HTT gene: one with the normal 25 polyglutamine repeats and one with an expanded 120 polyglutamine repeats, which models the severe form of Huntington’s disease. We used these flies to observe phenotypes like motor function and lifespan. This project was an essential first step to set up future drug testing platforms, ensuring that we had observable phenotypes to work with.
Why Fruit Flies?
Believe it or not, despite being separated by hundreds of millions of years of evolution, we share about 85% of our disease-related genes with these tiny insects. This makes fruit flies an ideal model for studying human genetic diseases, especially when it comes to understanding basic gene functions and their role in neurodevelopment.
Why I Chose Dr. Marcogliese’s Lab
I’ve been interested in genetic research for a while, but it was a hallway conversation with Dr. Marcogliese that really piqued my interest in his work. We talked about careers in science and how they aligned with my goals, and he gave me some great advice about pursuing graduate studies. At the time, I was gearing up for co-op terms abroad, but his insights stuck with me. After completing a year of studying in Berlin, I knew I wanted to return to Canada and work in his lab. I'm so glad I reached out, as it led to this summer studentship, which has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic journey.
The Summer Experience: Collaboration and Camaraderie
One of the most rewarding parts of my summer was the camaraderie I experienced in the lab. Dr. Marcogliese’s lab is not only full of brilliant scientists but also genuinely kind people who are always willing to lend a hand or offer advice. My bench mentor, Yina, was my go-to for anything fly-related. She guided me through all the fly work, from setting up genetic crosses to running behavioural assays. Yina was like my own personal “fly whisperer,” always there to troubleshoot any issues I had with the flies.
We also collectively had an inside joke in the lab about being fly caretakers—or babysitters—since we spent so much time tending to their needs. Flies are messy little creatures, and between cooking for them, feeding them, cleaning their vials, and making sure they were well taken care of before experiments, we took our duties as fly nannies very seriously!
Takeaways: The Value of Summer Research
This summer reinforced for me the value of hands-on research experience. It’s incredibly satisfying to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to real-world problems. From mastering new techniques to analyzing data and troubleshooting experiments, the skills I’ve gained this summer will stick with me throughout my career.
But beyond the technical skills, I’ve learned the importance of collaboration, patience, and persistence. Research isn’t always straightforward, and things don’t always go as planned, but working with a supportive team and staying focused on the bigger picture makes it all worthwhile.
Looking Ahead
The work I started this summer isn’t finished. There’s still much to learn about LOMARS, and I’m excited to pass the torch to the next scientist, who will take this project through its next steps. Soon, there will be a fly model ready for drug testing, which could bring us one step closer to understanding and potentially treating LOMARS.
I want to thank the ENRRICH program for making this experience possible, and Dr. Marcogliese and his team for welcoming me into the lab and supporting me every step of the way. This summer has been an enriching (pun intended!) and unforgettable chapter in my journey as a scientist.
Maria Penagos: A Day in the Life of a Chemistry Student Learning to Unravel Brain Mysteries
My mornings typically begin with a burst of energy, as I play my favourite reggaeton Spanish songs to get ready. After a quick chat with my roommates, I like to start my day with some physical activity, specially playing tennis with my friends before heading off to the lab. Once I arrive on campus, my first task is waiting in line at Starbucks for my daily iced caramel macchiato.
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Hi! My name is Maria Penagos, and I’m an international student from Bogotá, Colombia, currently in my fourth year as a Chemistry major. My journey into research began with the guidance of Dr. Hassan Marzban, an inspiring professor whose research focuses on the cerebellum and its vital role in brain function. Dr. Marzban and his dedicated PhD students, particularly Azam Asemi Rad, mentorship played a pivotal role in my transition from chemistry to neuroscience, helping me explore the intersection of these disciplines and encouraging me to ask complex scientific questions. Marzban’s lab members’ unwavering support has been invaluable in shaping my approach to research and has provided me with a strong foundation to build my future scientific career.
This summer, under the PhD students’ mentorship in Marzban’s lab, I participated in a project investigating the removal of astrocytes in the lateral cerebellar nuclei of mice. Astrocytes, the star-shaped cells in the brain, provide crucial structural support and enhance neuronal health and communication. The goal of our study was to understand how the absence of these cells in the nuclei impacts motor behavior. This experience has demonstrated how focused, small-scale research can result in valuable insights in the field of neuroscience! Being new to neuroscience, I benefited greatly from the collaborative environment they foster in the lab, including animal trainee program and completing the biosafety training course, to get necessary approvals before starting my experiments. The PhD students were instrumental in helping me navigate various technical and theoretical aspects of our project. Their mentorship not only enriched my lab experience but also created a sense of community that made learning both engaging and meaningful.
A Day in My Life as a Researcher
Interested in what my typical day looks like? Here’s a glimpse into my life as a student researcher.
Morning Routine:
My mornings typically begin with a burst of energy, as I play my favorite reggaeton Spanish songs to get ready. After a quick chat with my roommates, I like to start my day with some physical activity, specially playing tennis with my friends before heading off to the lab. Once I arrive on campus, my first task is waiting in line at Starbucks for my daily iced caramel macchiato.
In the Lab:
Once I’m in the lab, my workday varies, but it always involves tasks like preparing tissue samples, analyzing data, and attending lab meetings. One of the main techniques I learned to use is immunohistochemistry. This technique allows me to visualize different cell types within the cerebellum of the mice, including astrocytes and other cells such as GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons.
The process involves slicing brain tissue with a cryostat, applying antibodies that bind to specific proteins, and using a confocal microscope to capture high-resolution images. Preparing samples is detailed work, and it often takes a lot of patience and careful handling (mouse brains are so tiny!). When the tissue is prepared, I add the antibodies and leave them to incubate so they can be ready to analyze the next day.
During incubation periods, I catch up on reading scientific papers, particularly on cerebellar diseases and astrocyte function. I also found time to connect with students from other departments and enjoy coffee breaks.
In Dr. Marzban's lab, we hold biweekly Zoom meetings where each team member shares their latest results, and Dr. Marzban offers valuable feedback on our progress. These meetings are also an opportunity to plan and brainstorm the next steps in our experiments. We love to celebrate team achievements! Whether it’s getting a paper published, troubleshooting a difficult technique, or securing new funding. I especially appreciate the support I’ve received from the PhD students, it’s hard to imagine getting through all the concepts without their help and encouragement.
Midday Connections:
Lunchtime is a social highlight, where I exchange stories with my friends, whether they’re PhD, Master's students, or undergraduates like me. Our conversations range from serious scientific discussions to light-hearted recounts of lab mistakes and unexpected results, giving us all a good laugh.
Afternoon Projects:
The afternoons are often spent helping the PhD student with her research. I assist with tasks like euthanasia of the mice and recording the time in the behavioral testing, giving me hands-on experience with different techniques, and enriching my understanding of neuroscience.
Summarizing a summer of learning:
This summer was a valuable time for growth, allowing me to learn beyond just academics. I gained practical skills in networking, presenting scientific work, managing time, and staying resilient in challenging situations. My background in chemistry provided a solid foundation for designing experiments and applying concepts of dilution and reactions. If you're looking to break into the world of health sciences research, please know that students from diverse backgrounds are finding ways to contribute, even if their major area of study may seem unrelated. I came to understand that academia isn’t just about gaining knowledge, it’s about fueling curiosity and being unafraid to ask difficult questions.
Understanding mistakes in research is challenging but invaluable. Once you recognize where you went wrong, you start looking for answers and solutions with a new perspective. Euthanizing mice wasn’t my favorite task, but I learned that it’s a crucial step in obtaining experimental results. At times, it feels like your efforts were wasted because the results didn’t meet your expectations, or you find yourself repeating the same experiments over and over. But I’ve realized that no time is truly wasted, regardless of the outcome. Each failure brings new lessons. As cliché as it sounds, every time I repeated an experiment, it felt like a new story with fresh mistakes to learn from.
About the Author
Brit Melvin is a 4th-year Genetics Honours Co-op student passionate about understanding the genetic basis of development and disease. After spending a year working at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin, Brit returned to Canada for a summer studentship in Dr. Paul Marcogliese’s lab, where they worked on fruit fly models of Lopes-Maciel-Rodan Syndrome.
About the Author
Maria Paula Penagos is a fourth-year undergraduate chemistry student at the University of Manitoba. This summer 2024, she fell in love with research while working with Dr. Hassan Marzban in the Human Anatomy and Cell Science Department. Her experience motivated her to pursue postgraduate studies in health sciences, and she hopes to leverage her skills in future research opportunities.
Maria is from Bogota, Colombia and you can often find her practicing gymnastics or playing soccer with her friends. She is passionate about organic chemistry, and is excited to bridge the gap between healthcare and organic synthesis, by discovering and developing pharmaceuticals.