The World of Fish Lab

by Isabel Contreras

Many prospective students, freshmen or even upperclassmen may be curious about undergraduate research. Well, let me be the first to say that if you are at all interested or even curious, ask around and be curious! (When you visit campus, be sure to ask our student ambassadors and they can answer any and all questions regarding the matter.) It’s one of the many qualities professors look for in their student researchers.

I am involved in two separate research labs, but I thought I would share my experience in Fish Lab because I have been involved since freshman year and have the most knowledge. This lab, run by psychology and neuroscience professor Dr. Andrew Velkey, contains anywhere from 20-35 students and numerous projects! We have dubbed this lab the “Fish Lab” since all of our various projects encompass fish studies.

The students in this lab have naturally formed a little group for ourselves. We have mentors and mentees, a fish lab manager,  weekly “moments with Velkey,” “Fish Lab” T-shirts and a semesterly party! Some of these traditions have borne the most memorable moments of my college career thus far in addition to the numerous academically enlightening ones found through working on my specific project. Looking back on freshman year, I can’t imagine my college experience without undergraduate research and I am so grateful for the time I have spent participating.