By Danielle Rodriguez, C2ST Intern, Waubonsee Community College

The beat of your heart, the grumbling of your stomach, the whisper of air traveling in and out of your nose – these are all processes of the human body that we can feel and hear. But what about the processes in our body that go unheard? What about the traits that transpire before we even take our first breath; the ones that determine if our hair is curly or straight, our eyes brown or blue? These traits are determined by our DNA sequences, and scientists are creating ways to find patterns in these sequences by translating them into music.

Continue reading “The Dynamics of DNA: How Scientists are Translating Genes into Symphonies”

By Ariane Tsai, C2ST Intern, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Institute for Genomic Biology

In a world of modern science, few discoveries hold as much promise and intrigue as stem cells. With their remarkable ability to regenerate and repair tissues, stem cell therapy has revolutionized medical treatments ranging from liver disease to leukemia¹. But have you ever wondered how these tiny yet potent entities take on these seemingly impossible tasks? Taking it one step further, how can two stem cells with the same characteristics regenerate different organs (i.e., one becoming a liver cell and another skin cell)? To understand how the cells go from stem cells to their final state, we will follow the journey of three stem cells in finding their way to fulfill their cellular fate.

  Continue reading “Diary of a Memory T cell: A Tale of Three Stem Cells”

By Bianca Loglisci, C2ST Intern, Loyola University

You’re likely familiar with the frowned-upon chemical compound carbon dioxide, CO2– a dangerous greenhouse gas that when released into the atmosphere in large amounts can drastically escalate the effects of climate change. But did you know that CO2 can be helpful in certain conservation efforts? Scientists have recently discovered and started implementing a new method of controlling invasive carp species in freshwater ecosystems. In some cases, CO2 may not be so bad after all!

Continue reading “Closeup on Carp: CO2 for Ecological Innovation”

By Sneha Das, C2ST Intern, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Clinical trials have become a widely recognized household term, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization defines clinical trials as research that evaluates the human health outcomes of new tests and treatments like medicines, vaccines, medical devices, and surgical or behavioral procedures. This blog will take you on a fascinating journey of how clinical trials have developed over time.

Continue reading “Ships to Shots – The Remarkable Evolution of Clinical Trials”

By Nik Sultana, Illinois Institute of Technology

I am an assistant professor of computer science at Illinois Institute of Technology, where I work on developing cutting-edge techniques in computer networking and applying them to solve problems in other scientific fields and cybersecurity. During summer 2023 I had the good fortune of visiting Fermilab, the United States’s renowned research facility dedicated to high-energy particle physics and particle accelerator laboratory, to work on research. The research investigated how new computer networking techniques can support the science that’s being done at Fermilab. Temporarily transplanting my work to a different research environment helped generate new research ideas, and taught me a lot about working with scientists in research areas outside of computer networking.

Continue reading “Trip Report: A Research Visit to Fermilab”

By Ariane Tsai, C2ST Intern, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Institute for Genomic Biology

If you’re a student pursuing a STEM field in college, you’ve likely heard of undergraduate research. But what is it, and how can you get involved? Undergraduate research offers students the chance to conduct experiments and investigations under the guidance of a principal investigator (PI) and their graduate students. In this article, I’ll share insights into undergraduate research and offer guidance on getting started. 

                                                     

Continue reading “How to Get Involved in Undergraduate Research”