Aroma Chanda ’27 finds remedies for liver diseases during summer research
Chanda uses the model organism of mice to research potential cures for humans.
Photo courtesy of Aroma Chanda.
Building upon her experience working with animals in the labs at Carleton, Aroma Chanda ’27 is studying mice this summer in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Tulane School of Medicine. Using the mice as models, the goal of her work is to identify remedies for different liver diseases in humans.
In the lab, Chanda can be found doing a variety of activities. Some days she runs experiments, other days she’s combing through journals to enhance a literature review for the manuscript her lab is working on. Experiments can include getting tissue samples from mice, scanning stained slides under the microscope, and analyzing liver tissues.
Photo courtesy of Aroma Chanda.
“It’s a great opportunity to get hands-on experience and exposure,” said Chanda.
Mice handling specifically has been a new experience for her. While hesitant to work with mice at first, Chanda has found the welcoming environment of the lab encouraging. When working with animals, she also considers the many discoveries in medicine that have relied on animals to change people’s lives. Understanding the importance of animals in science has helped her embrace the potential this kind of work has for helping people.
Photo courtesy of Aroma Chanda.
Learning about Western blotting — a technique to separate a sample into its component proteins — and successfully executing a Western blot herself was a rewarding moment that got Chanda excited about her work in the lab. After shadowing a PhD student, Chanda was tasked with performing a Western blot by her project’s principal investigator (PI). Having to trust the process, Chanda only found out if she did the experiment correctly at the last stage. The results were not only gratifying, but paved the way for Chanda to be able to do more on her own. From this experience, Chanda gained confidence and learned to trust herself more in the lab. Due to her successful Western blot experiment resulting in useful data, Chanda will be listed as an author in a published paper.
“Being published as an undergraduate is an incredible opportunity that I know will definitely aid me in my future endeavors,” said Chanda. “I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish this without the support of Carleton.”
Photo courtesy of Aroma Chanda.
Beyond tangible lab techniques, Chanda has gained a new perspective on learning. Rather than memorize a list of steps, Chanda is encouraged to understand the concepts behind why the protocols work as well — a perfect fit with her Carleton liberal arts education. This level of critical thinking allows the skills she learns to become applicable to settings beyond her current lab.
Chanda will also bring back to Carleton a heightened ability to plan. Unlike a lab from her intro biology class, labs this summer have oftentimes lacked an initial protocol. Instead, Chanda is tasked with finding a certain protein and must plan out all the steps, from tissue collection to imaging final results.
Photo courtesy of Aroma Chanda.
“Planning can be applied to every aspect of my life. These organization skills will help me at Carleton and beyond. I’ve learned to step back first before launching into something new,” said Chanda.
The Carleton Career Center has been invaluable to Chanda’s internship experience, both by providing funding and structure. The Multicultural Alumni Network (MCAN) fellowship was a “great resource” without which Chanda “wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing and learn all these things.” Additionally, the resources such as weekly reflections, check-ins, and goal-setting worksheets “ensure productivity.”
“Those resources have helped me not get lost as I try to learn so many different things,” said Chanda.