culturedfancyfish asked: Did the contest end? I'm sad that I didn't win the poster, I would've put it in my space my lab. Plus your tumblr is superb, any advice for a 2nd year undergrad not sure what she wants to do in the science field? I currently work in a zebrafish lab that specializes in diabetes.

Hello! Thanks for the message.

I actually got a couple of requests for the poster, so everyone interested should keep an eye out while I figure something out for  you guys.

As for advice, I don’t have that much since I personally always knew what I liked. But! After you’ve fulfilled all of your prereqs, make sure you take a good variety of classes that you think you will enjoy and then give them your all. If you’re not doing that great in them, you’ve probably not found your intellectual calling (nor should you get upset if you don’t do well in a class you took that turns out to be no fun). Eventually, something will ping with you.

Of course, no matter how prestigious your school or lab may be, always travel. Or at least be somewhat aware of goings on. Chances are someone in another country is toeing something extraordinary in your field of interest.

That being said, once you have found your passion, remember to stay humble, whether you are aiming for med school or grad school or switching to a new field altogether. Never be the smartest person in a room and never get too obsessed with one topic. Remember to challenge yourself, tackle your weakspots (despite general loathing from the science student population, higher level statistics classes come to mind if you have any plans in research, hint), and always keep your curiosity broader than your studies.

I hope that at least sort of helps and good luck!