The document summarizes Jessica Díaz Rivera's experience in research programs and laboratory work. Specifically: 1) She participated in the RISE program where she wrote a research proposal on fecal pollution in beaches and gained experience presenting proposals. 2) She shadowed doctors through a medical science program and helped in laboratories, learning techniques like electrophoresis and PCR. 3) Currently, she is participating in the RISE laboratory techniques component to improve her English, laboratory skills, and leadership. She is learning techniques like microscope photography and pipetting.

1. Experience by Jessica Díaz Rivera<br /> Despite I don’t have a concrete experience in research I have some qualities that make me the ideal person to be in a laboratory of research: perseverant, responsible, organize, well time management, good team worker, fast learner, leadership and also a very motivated person. <br /> In addition to those qualities in this summer I had the experience to be part of the Rise Program at UPR-Cayey. This represents to me a big deal and I put a lot of my energy to realize that work. In this program I wrote a proposal of a hypothetic research. In this proposal I design a methodology. The theme of my proposal was about: The cause of fecal pollution in the beaches. I am prepared to design any methodology. I also know how to browse scientific articles in Science Direct and I read a lot of scientific improvement to expand or gain more scientific knowledge in different areas. In summer 2008-09 I was selected to participate in the Shadowing Program in the Medical Science, Rio Piedras Campus. In this program I have to help the doctors when they need it. And they teach me about the conditions or disease of the different patient. Also in the summer I had to prepare the laboratory data that include: objectives, materials, procedure and the results. In the laboratory I did techniques like electrophoresis, PCR, electro-photometry etc. I also had experience in presenting a proposal to big groups and the professors. In the RISE Program we walk through a secondary forest to research secondary growth in the plants and also the species that had this kind of forests. I was doing a research that involves plants because I have to do, for my botany course, a garden to see some of the effects that have the plants during stress activity. Also I made a project about different plant family with my group of the laboratory, compare between them and find the characteristics and life cycle of the family and present to the group and professor. At this time I am in RISE Program in the Laboratory Techniques component. This activity will help me to improve English, my laboratory techniques, my science ability, leadership and so many other things. In the first laboratory I learn how to take photo from the microscope to the computer using the Q application, and the different techniques to use the pipette. In the chemistry laboratory I learned about the calibration curve and how to compare with the linear regression the absorbance and the molarity of the substance in Excel. Also the professor taught us how to take water samplings and analyze them. And how to put large quantities of data in Excel with Statistical methods. This semester the professor will select groups of two and each pair will have a mentor to do research and at the end of the semester present your research.<br /> The RISE Program help me to have more knowledge and apply it in the future in some research work. We are prepared to be future scientists. <br />