Mary Gates Endowment For Students
Lily Nguyen
Mary Gates Research Scholar, Winter 2024
Research Project: A New Model of Hydrocephalus Reveals an Unexpected Role of Hedgehog Signaling on Cell Adhesion
Project Description: Congenital hydrocephalus is a condition marked by an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, and is often caused by structural defects in development. In a mouse model developed in the Kong Lab, with a loss of a core developmental pathway Notch, there was a loss of cell adhesion that ultimately lead to the mice all developing hydrocephalus. Interestingly, the areas of the brain with high Hedgehog signaling didn’t lose cell adhesion. Working under Dr. Kong, my project aims to study the roles of Hedgehog and Notch signaling to see how they both work together to preserve cell adhesion in the developing central nervous system.
What have you learned throughout your research project?
I’ve learned how to critically plan out experiments, perform them and analyze my data. Prior to joining the Kong Lab, my only wet-lab experience was in chemistry lab classes and I didn’t have much knowledge on the difference it would make to join a research lab. I’ve been supported by my mentor and lab members to present posters on my research to improve my scientific presentation skills.
What piece of advice do you have for future applicants?
Go to the advising workshops to get your application reviewed before submitting! It helps to get multiple perspectives on the essay draft. Be confident in yourself and your research as well, and take opportunities for growth whenever you can! You got this!