Student Reflection - Julia Swyden

This summer, I was a research assistant for the swine nutritional project on conjugated linoleic acid. I was very grateful for this opportunity. It enabled me to gain experience with caring for an animal that I had not worked with prior to the experience, I was able to learn more about CLA and the different theories about the effects, and I was able to add another research experience to my resume.

In the mornings, I assisted in measuring out soybean oil and CLA, measuring out feed, feeding the pigs, cleaning their pens, and assessing their general health. In the afternoons, I assisted with all of the responsibilities that were listed in the morning as well as exercising the pigs. I learned very quickly where to put pressure to get them to move where I wanted.

Exercising the pigs allowed us to better assess their general health and got the pigs accustomed to walking over the scale.

Each Tuesday, we arrived at the barn promptly at 5:00AM. This allowed us to set up for data collection. I learned more about what anthelmintic drugs were best for the pigs and how to give them. On days that we collected blood samples, I organized the vacutainer tubes. After data collection I aided in the laboratory, spinning down the blood samples in the centrifuge and placing the serum into microcentrifuge tubes to be frozen for later analysis.

The research experience over the summer made me grow as a scientist and as a worker. Aside from the science, I learned a lot about time management and how to work around other schedules. As a result from gaining research experience this summer, I have had multiple job offers for when I graduate in December. The jobs range from animal care positions to veterinary technician positions. Once again, I am eternally grateful for this opportunity and I am thankful for the experience I have gained as a result of being a research assistant