2019

This unique opportunity to participate in hands-on projects in a subject that actually interested me sounded like a rewarding experience. The projects completed from previous years truly helped me when I was learning about circadian biology in BIMM116, and I wanted to be a part of the team that will help others to learn as well! I hope that my knowledge and experience from working at a biotech lab and as a biology TA and research in my BS/MS lab will help contribute to educating people about circadian biology. When I am not studying or in the lab, I like to travel and spend time with my dogs.

I discovered the BioClock Studio while taking the Circadian Rhythms and Biological Clocks class (BIMM 116). Not only did I find the material to be fascinating but the way the material was presented via the BioClock Studio was unlike any other class I had taken before. When I discovered that students in the BioClock Studio were given the opportunity to participate in a collaborative effort aimed towards making educational content for the BIMM 116 class in addition to the general public, I knew I had to apply. When I am not in school or working as a dog walker, I enjoy camping, rock climbing, and playing beach volleyball.

I am a 4th year general biology major with a passion for creating beautiful things and learning about the powerhouse of the cell. I’m always interested in investigating the intersection of science and art. Seeing my friend’s name in the credits of one of the learning modules for the circadian rhythms course motivated me to be a part of the Bioclock Studio. When I’m not in Geisel studying, I can usually be found spoiling my dog with belly rubs or playing video games.

I’m passionate about biological discoveries and how to utilize them to improve human health. I learned about BioClock Studio through visiting the website. I realized that BioClock Studio is relatively new, and it needs people with different backgrounds to contribute to develop educational materials and projects. I thought this was a great opportunity for me to develop these skills while learning new knowledge in the field of circadian biology. Plus, I like helping people learn through tutoring and working as a teaching assistant, and creating educational materials is another way to help.

I wanted to take a different and exciting class at UCSD and that was when I came across BioClock Studio. This class brings together my passion for biology and my love for research, while focusing on an important and under-looked topic: the application of biological circadian rhythms in everyday life. I think it is important to educate individuals about their own body and its mechanism because it allows individuals to be more in control of their health. I want to apply my knowledge as a biology student and my communication skills in order to make science more accessible and enjoyable to learn about.

I came to UCSD as an exchange student and was delighted to have the opportunity to participate in the BioClock Studio. Since joining a laboratory of circadian biology, I fell in love with the subject and considered this course as an opportunity to learn more. I hope to cooperate with others as we create material that helps the general public understand the importance of knowing their biological rhythms. In my spare time, I like to play basketball, play drums and train boxing.

I heard about the BioClock Studio while taking the Circadian Rhythms course in the Fall since the videos used were made by previous BCS years. These videos were extremely helpful to me as someone who has trouble keeping focus while reading so I was glad to have them as a resource. I knew I wanted to join because I wanted to help create more of these videos. I have experience with making videos and I want to apply that to help others. Outside of class, I help make a satire newspaper as a Design Editor and I play my french horn in an orchestra and wind ensemble. I also dance and explore the outdoors by hiking or on a longboard.

The BioClock Studio combines my passions in a way that I’ve never experienced before. When I came to UCSD, I planned a conventional path as a general biology major but added the Interdisciplinary Computing, Arts, and Music minor and began Technical Communications certification to find fulfillment between creative work and the hard sciences. I am working towards a career in technical/scientific communications and am thrilled to use my diverse experiences and skill sets to contribute to the BioClock Studio. I love learning new things, and so my hobbies include everything from writing to sewing to filmmaking!

As a graduate student in circadian neurobiology, and now as a postdoc at the Salk Institute studying how plants respond to the environment, I developed a deep appreciation for the variety of interesting questions related to biological timing. It is a privilege to be a part of the Bioclock Studio and work with students to explore these questions. The intersection of science and design as the students create their projects is a fascinating thing to witness, and is made even better knowing that the materials will encourage more people to engage with circadian time.

I am a postdoc in the department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, where I study how circadian rhythms affect reproduction. I am an advocate of making science accessible to everyone who wants to learn, and I appreciate the tremendous opportunity to share my favorite scientific topic through BioClock Studio! The evolution of vague ideas in to tutorials is an amazing process, and is one of my favorite parts.

Being an HHMI Professor provides an exceptional opportunity to approach education in new ways. Seeing collaborative projects emerge from diverse student teams is very satisfying. The BioClock Studio is tremendously rewarding because everyone learns: the participating students and their mentors, the hundreds of students who use BioClock Studio materials each year in an undergraduate circadian rhythms class, and people all over the world who access our online resources.

As a former BioClock Studio student, I appreciate the opportunity to return and help students create educational materials for the exciting field of circadian biology. I am excited to be a part of the effort to work toward facilitating effective communication between the general public and the scientific community. I look forward to putting my experiences as both a student and mentor in the class toward furthering engagement with issues important to our health and daily lives.