Many universities have developed undergraduate scientific programs that promote student

participation in scientific research and improve their scientific skills by providing economic assistance at

the same time. Along these programs is the Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) in the

University of Puerto Rico at Cayey (UPRC). I joined the RISE Program during the summer of 2013 and

took the Summer Bridge course, then made the cut to continue participating in the program to take the

Seminar Scientific Literature and Bibliography course, and currently taking the Biomedical Techniques

course. By taking this spring semester course, I have developed into a more complete scientist by

working in two different investigations alongside two professors from different areas of study, writing 2

scientific manuscripts for each one of them, and learning new lab techniques, hence learning many new

lab techniques and improving my writing as a scientist.

The workshops taken this semester took place at the “Nuevo Edificio de Ciencia” (NEC) in different

lab rooms with professors from different concentrations. During each workshop, each professor

presented their investigation and taught us what lab techniques they used for their project, from which I

learned many new things and acquired new lab skills, such as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis,

chromatography, DNA Barcoding, protein profiling, working with different kinds of microscopes,

electrospinning, sputtering, the coliphage method, working with magnetic nanoparticles, working with

double interface bilayers and bacteriophage enrichment, filtration and purification. We also went to

three seminars about investigations done by ex-alumni researchers from UPRC, where I learned a little

about the different topics presented such as Carbon Dots, Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF) AND

Self-powered Enzymes used as Micropumps. Between these three seminars, we were asked to write

about any one of them to compete in a creative writing contest. In addition the workshops and seminars

I also took some language seminars on which I learned to write an argumentative essay, a reflective

essay, a personal statement and a curriculum vitae.

Besides the workshops, seminars and assignments, I was assigned to work with two professors on

their investigations, one from biochemistry and the other from genetics. Finding the time to go to the

lab during the academic semester was hard but possible. Doing these investigations I had a chance to

learn what new things the scientific world is currently studying for different purposes, mostly medical. I

learned different techniques and methods from each concentration, which will be very useful for my

future courses since I will be more experienced.

The main purpose of this course is learning how to work in teams in the lab, which is critical for future

investigation. I wrote two manuscripts form different themes and study of interest with the help of a

colleague. When writing the manuscripts I first had to truly understand each technique and method,

their purpose and their implications. Only then was I able to gather more information about the

investigations and expand on the theme of each manuscript so they could be understood by any reader

who does not know anything about that theme. Writing scientific manuscripts helped me improve my

research and lab skills, enhance my teamwork abilities and learn about topics aside from my studies.

Similar scientific programs are helping undergraduate students improve their research skills the same

way RISE is helping me. These programs help enhance the students’ scientific mind and give them a

chance to learn additional material aside from their school work. They also provide students with

research opportunities and help them approach the world of research with better preparation. Finally

they benefit these students by distinguishing them from others and giving them recognition.