Being part of the DIY Diagnostics stream has really been instrumental to my growth as not only a student but as well as a scientist here at UT. What drew me to this stream was the wide variety of projects that we work on during the spring semester, giving us a broad range of topics to dive deeper and explore in the fall. From checking the E. coli levels in Waller Creek to researching the genetic code of Zika Virus, DIY Diagnostics encompasses a wide spectrum of subjects, all relating to diagnostic tools. The vision of this stream is to create from start to finish a product like a pregnancy tester, where the consumer can purchase the test and perform it on her own without the guidance of a health care worker. We aren’t focused on looking to find a cure for a disease or learn more about the biological molecules that surround the world we live in today, but we care about making people’s lives easier and healthier, and as a result happier.
DIY Diagnostics is one of the many streams under FRI, or Freshman Research Initiative. FRI is a program designed to help first-year students get plugged into research, and it’s been incredibly successful in its first 10 years. Although I don’t plan to pursue a career in research once I graduate UT, the skills and knowledge that I learn by being in labs can only prepare me for the road ahead. Specifically, being in DIY Diagnostics has enhanced my learning experience greatly. I’ve learned much more about bacteria, like E. coli and Enterococcus, by being in this stream, as well as techniques such as qPCR and pH-LAMP. In addition to furthering my knowledge in biology and chemistry, I’ve learned how to code. A key part of DIY Diagnostics is writing apps as diagnostic tools, so I’ve learned languages such as HTML, JavaScript, and CSS+. It’s definitely very impressive when you can show friends and family the apps that you’ve written, and writing apps gives you an immense sense of accomplishment. 3D printing is also something that we are known for and it’s really cool to have a 3D printer you can access in your lab.
The community here in DIY Diagnostics is tremendous as well. Although UT can get very busy, somehow all the members find time to be in lab, to do research but also catch up as well. We’re all in this together and are very open to helping others succeed in the research that they’re doing. Overall, I’ve had a tremendous experience here in DIY. From the research to the friends, I wouldn’t have wanted my first year any other way.