Ben DeWitt is participating in the Integrative Microbial and Plant Systems Research REU at North Carolina State University.
Every summer, several undergraduate students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga leave their comfort zones and embark on learning experiences at other universities.
Think lab work, field research, seminars, faculty mentorship, bonding with peers and exploring new cities.
These opportunities are made possible thanks to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, which provides funding for students to spend the summer collaborating on research projects at institutions across the country.
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Click here to read other UTC REU stories.
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Ben DeWitt is spending his summer in Raleigh, North Carolina, participating in the Integrative Microbial and Plant Systems Research REU at North Carolina State University.
A rising senior at UTC, DeWitt is majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry. He’s also a Brock Scholar in the Honors College.
This is what he had to say about his REU experience.
How did you first hear about REUs?
“I found out about REUs through word of mouth. One of my friends had done one, and the Office of National Scholarships and the Honors College would mention them from time to time.
“I found this specific opportunity through the NSF REU website. They have a big list of programs, so I just searched my area of interest, which is biology, and this was one of the ones that stood out to me. I applied and was fortunate to get in.”
Tell me about the REU itself. What kind of research are you doing?
“The program is called Integrative Microbial and Plant Systems Research and there are six students participating this summer. Each project is a little different since it spans both microbial and plant biology.
“My project focuses on the signaling of a plant hormone called ethylene and its relationship to something called the ‘triple response.’ I’m working with a model organism called Arabidopsis thaliana. When Arabidopsis seedlings are grown in the dark and exposed to ethylene, they show this distinct triple response: the hypocotyl and root are shortened, the hypocotyl thickens and the apical hook curls. It’s a really visual way to measure sensitivity to ethylene.
“Specifically, I’m looking at something called the ‘rapid response,’ which involves two periods of growth inhibition shortly after exposure to ethylene. The transcription factors that regulate this are still unknown. So my work involves generating mutant lines that lack certain transcription factor genes to see which ones might be involved in the signaling process.”
What does a typical day look like for you?
“It’s pretty much a 9-to-5 lab schedule, but it varies a lot depending on what stage of the research we’re in.
“Some days involve collecting plant tissue and running PCR (polymerase chain reaction) to amplify specific genes so we can check for successful mutations. Lately, I’ve been working on a method called the CEL I assay. It’s a way to detect mutations by mixing a wild-type DNA strand with a potentially mutated one. If there’s a mismatch, the CEL I enzyme cuts the DNA at that point. Then, when we run gel electrophoresis, we can see if the cut occurred, which tells us if a mutation is present.
“After that, if we think there’s a successful mutation, we send the samples off for sequencing to confirm whether the mutation is actually there.”
That sounds like an interesting hands-on experience. Has it been fun?
“Yes, it’s been both fun and very educational. Even when I’m not actively doing something, like when the PCR machine is running, I’m reading literature or talking to lab mates. It’s a very intellectually engaging environment. It’s not just following a set plan and then doing the steps. It’s always changing.”
Have you had time to explore Raleigh outside of the lab?
“I’ve been to some great restaurants. There’s a lot of variety here. One of my favorite places so far is the arboretum owned by NCSU. It’s nice to walk around and there are lots of natural green spaces. There are some museums that I’d like to go to that I haven’t made my way over to yet.”
What does it mean to you to have this kind of research experience as an undergraduate?
“Having research experience while in undergrad is really important. I knew I wanted to do research, but I didn’t really know exactly what I wanted to do research in. I also didn’t know what research really looked like; it was just an idea in my mind.
“It’s really important to be exposed to that in undergrad because it’s changed my idea of what I want for the future. I’ve learned what I enjoy and what I think is not for me.
“The lab environment has made me realize that the community aspect of doing research is really something special. You’re friends with everyone in the lab, and you’re always having conversations while you’re doing your work and helping each other with various troubles that you run into. I’ve really come to realize that I think research is what I want to do. Because I had that experience, I know I like it.”
Learn more
Enzyme extraction research photos by Ben DeWitt
