It was worth it
This will be the last blog post I write, so I want to talk about the project as a whole. I probably wouldn’t have believed you if you had told me months ago that my research would end with powdered horse placenta, a barn fire, and an unexpected deep dive into viral replication. But here we are.
This final week wasn’t just about getting results. It was about realizing how far this project, and I, have come. What started as a straightforward comparison between cow and horse amniotic membranes became entirely different. When the bovine samples fell through, I had a choice. I could pause the project or pivot. I chose to pivot.
That shift taught me more about how research works than anything else. I learned how to adapt. How to keep going when things don’t go according to plan. How to ask new questions when the old ones no longer fit. And most importantly, how to trust the process, even when it feels uncertain. I think the coolest part of the internship was learning how to use a proper scientific pipet.
Yes, I ended up with meaningful data. And yes, it looks like equine amniotic fluid might actually reduce viral replication. But the most important thing I gained wasn’t a result. It was the confidence to keep exploring, to stay curious, and to believe that even the most unexpected turns can lead to something worthwhile. This project didn’t end the way I expected. It ended better and I have learned so much along the way.
I want to thank my lab advisor and partner for stepping in and helping with the project whenever I needed and thank you to my readers for being a part of this journey and learning about my project. This is bye for now!
– Sanjana Balaji