Getting ready...

Hi all and welcome to my UMass-Boston Graduate Exchange experience blog.

In case this is the first blog by me you've seen, I'll tell you a little bit about myself. I am a doctoral candidate with the Environmental, Earth, and Ocean Sciences department at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. My chief research interests lie in fish inner ear development, most notably the otolith or ear stone, with respect to changing environmental conditions. This may incorporate metal signatures, stable isotopic composition, or various morphological or mineralogical features.

I was selected to participate in the UMB-GCU exchange program due to my experience with otolith morphology/mineralogy to pair with a researcher at GCU doing molecular work on zebrafish. Zebrafish are a model species for experimentation since the entire genome has been mapped and that there are a multitude of genetic strains available for a broad range of biomedical research. My goals there include setting up future collaborations as well as to participate in cultural exchanges. I will be recording observations regarding the differences and similarities to my experiences in the US at UMass-Boston. As a special bonus, I may also incorporate some blogging regarding weekend activities as well! I am told there may be a ticket to a football match while I'm there!

I'll be leaving tomorrow at 6:15PM EST. My tickets are printed, most of my clothes are packed... now it's time to find space for my table tennis racquet.

Please feel free over the duration of my trip to make comments or particular requests for information! This is as much for you, my followers, as it is for me!