Group development: Our laboratory holds regular weekly group meetings to discuss ongoing projects and updates. Our discussions during group meetings allow us to learn about and provide feedback for each other’s projects, fostering creative ideas for new projects and methods of improvement. When I initially joined the lab, these meetings only consisted of Dr. Wang’s eye group. However, now it has grown to include all subgroups of the BAIL lab: the eye, skin, and tissue groups, along with a journal club component. With this bigger group, more collaboration is evident. There are more insightful ideas and topics that are discussed weekly with members of the various groups offering help with each other.

Organization: The BAIL collaborates and shares data with many institutions nationwide and internationally. Thus, the database is enormous in which organization is crucial for projects to proceed smoothly. When I joined the lab, a folder was made for me in the database. It was important for me to access data carefully and save my work both strategically and logically so that other members of the group can follow along and potentially use my analysis. Additionally, within my own projects, I created clear, highly detailed, and well-organized presentations to update the team of my progress during meetings. This was essential for the efficiency of our group meetings as there are many update presentations every week.

Initiative: With my personal project, I had to understand the algorithms, methods, MATLAB codes, and new software used. When challenges would arise, I would take the initiative to understand and de-bug MATLAB codes line by line before asking for assistance. Additionally, I would often pose thought-provoking questions that would lead to new, interesting topics. After finishing my own initial project, there wasn’t another project given to me, so I stayed self-motivated and constantly reached out, offering my assistance to Diana and other group members. By taking this initiative, I was able co-author the ARVO 2021 abstract, work with more members of the eye group, and learn more about other members’ individual projects.

Functioning Independently: My projects revolve around conducting analysis of the choroid through image processing of choroid vessel visualization and quantification algorithms. This requires understanding the algorithms, methods, and MATLAB codes as well as performing segmentations that are done remotely on my own time. Whenever I come across errors or other challenges, I always attempt to de-bug myself before resorting to asking Diana for further assistance. Then, I compile clear and highly detailed presentations to update Diana and the rest of the eye group for feedback and next steps. Moreover, while there were no deadlines for these projects, I exemplified responsibility and efficiency by providing timely updates throughout my projects.

Self-Understanding: Most of the research done in the BAIL lab is completed remotely. Various algorithms implemented through code are utilized for data analysis. I have become knowledgeable in the eye, specifically the choroid. While there is much more to be learned as the eye contains many layers, I prefer hands-on learning or clinical. The only hands-on work that is performed in this lab is the collection of scans of patients’ eyes with optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices. Unfortunately, I am not able to complete these scans or shadow Gabriella, who completes these scans, due to COVID restrictions, but I hope that restrictions will be lifted soon so that I can see the clinical side of these projects where my interests are more closely aligned.

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Diversity: The BAIL lab consists of individuals with various backgrounds and experiences. There are undergraduate students, graduate students, PhD candidates, post-doctorates, and senior fellows, who all are trained in different backgrounds, such as bioengineering, polymer science and engineering, biomaterial engineering, laser and optical engineering, physics, etc. No one’s path to Dr. Wang’s lab has been the same. Additionally, since the BAIL lab has many interests and explores various imaging applications, everyone’s work within the lab is unique and diverse. Our different interests and experiences foster a highly collaborative environment where insightful ideas and topics are discussed weekly. Through these discussions, members of the lab help each other and even find correlations between their work, leading to new perspectives and discoveries.