1. Reflective Essay
BIOL 4997: Seminar in Biology: Theoretical and practical aspects of biomedical techniques
Alejandra M. De Jesús Soto
RISE Program
During spring semester 2014, I took the course BIOL 4997: Seminar in Biology:
Theoretical and practical aspects of biomedical techniques as part of the RISE Program. This
course prepares students in the development of biomedical techniques though different
workshops and research. I have accomplished a variety of goals I once thought were
unattainable. I have not only grown as a scientist, researcher and English writer, but as a person
as well. I feel that through my experience in this course, I have gained the knowledge, tools and
self-confidence it takes to step out into the real world and become a better student.
This course has helped me overcome my fear to teamwork. I was unsure of this
type of work because I had had bad experiences in the past. This course gave me the opportunity
of developing this skill through two research projects. Research projects are: Mycobacteriophage
isolation from tropical soil sample: Serotinus and Deposition of Tin Oxide Nanoparticles for
Electrochemical Studies of Amyloid Peptides (see reports and presentations). Through this
research experience, I acquired vocabulary of Biomedical Laboratory Techniques and I learned
to write a scientific manuscript. Also, I have practiced Internet research. Internet Databases let
the researcher search for articles containing key words that are related to the subject being
researched, and I used articles to understand both researches and as a reference to my
manuscripts. In addition, I developed communication and information management skills.

2. This course is a formation process. During the entire semester, professors were
monitoring our work and gave us constructive comments that helped me growing as student. I
applied all the advices in order to improve my research project, and other reports done during the
semester. This course requires hard work and dedication, but the rewards are endless.
After finishing the course, they came to my mind memories related to my first experience
in the RISE program, the summer bridge component. As I walked into the classroom the first
day, I was delighted to see that it was a small class setting in which there were freshmen. That
day, I met students with life plans like mine, with whom I have shared great experiences during
this year, making my college life easier. Also, this experience has helped me as a human being
and as student.
Finally, this course has given me the opportunity to learn what it takes to be a good
research scientist. Most importantly, this exposure to the world of science was at the beginning
of college life, helping me to understand the opportunities that I have in different areas of study,
both in Puerto Rico and the United States. This gives the opportunity to define alternatives for
professional life.