As a member of the InvestiGators, the amount of knowledge and experience I gained is above and beyond what I could have imagined when first joining.  Not only do you learn from the team members around you, but you are also being actively involved in the research itself instead of an innocent bystander, which is usually what happens as an undergraduate student. This led to so many one-of-a kind experiences.  From working at the GCRC spinning down patient blood samples for assays to being the Information Coordinator at the Gator clinic, being a part of the InvestiGators family has led to invaluable experiences that I will cherish and take with me for the rest of my life.

Being a part of InvestiGators was probably the most rewarding experience throughout my college career.  I gained knowledge that I never would have been exposed to during my college classes.  This research opportunity is like no other one out there. Dr. Borum treated us not like undergraduate students, but instead as her colleagues, and held us to an even higher standard.  This opportunity allowed me the chance to enhance my abilities as a leader as well as a team player.  I have come away with knowledge and experiences that I could not have gotten anywhere else and am very thankful that I had the opportunity to be a part of this organization.

Notable Roles: Captain, HIV/Carn member, HIPAA Officer, Catalog Officer

Time on Team: 1.5 years

Current Location: University of Florida

Current Email Address: Payden93@ufl.edu

Project: Carnitine Intake of Pediatric Patients Receiving Ketogenic Therapy

I came into the InvestiGators not knowing exactly what to expect, but was very, very excited. Right away I was being trained for all sorts of skills, including pipetting, various assay procedures, and leadership positions. I was learning about metabolism on a much deeper and more interesting level than that taught in classes. I looked forward to every meeting and, once I became more and more familiar with the material, caught myself pondering what I'd learned on the way to classes or home. I became more and more fascinated with how the three teams were involved in each other's work. Even now, over a year later, I still feel like a kid when I learn more connections.

Perhaps my favorite part of being on the team was just listening to Dr. Borum talk during meetings about her ideas for not only the present, but for the future as well. This is not a "we're-just-trying-to-reach-this-one-goal-and-that'll-be-it" research experience. This is more like a scavenger hunt, with each new piece of information found leading us to more and more discoveries. As for the teams, there are endless possibilities for learning and leadership; many times, the advantage of having a large group is that people can offer their different skills to the team. I may not be the best researcher or data analyzer, but I love teaching assay techniques and showing people how to prepare for the piglet surgeries. I was even lucky enough to be one of the members responsible for the behind-the-scenes preparations of the surgeries.

All in all, the time I was able to spend on the team was, I feel, invaluable. The amount I learned and the meaningfulness of the team's goals made each hour put into the team a worthwhile experience. My friends often spoke of their "research", how every couple of hours they'll stop in between classes to change a solution or wash some dishes. All I could ever do was shake my head and smile, feeling almost sorry for what they're missing out on.

Notable Roles: Personnel Officer

Time on Team: 1 year

Current Location: University of Florida

The experience taught me a lot about myself and both time and project management.  There was always a host of tasks to complete in lab and to be successful, it was necessary to organize and prioritize your responsibilities.   I also gained valuable experience working in both team and individual environments and learned how to effectively accomplish goals in both settings.  I attended a national conference, and got exposure to the world of nutrition research on a much larger level.  On a more specific level, I gained a lot of experience working with Microsoft Excel, Powerpoint, and Microsoft Access.

The skills I learned during my time with the InvestiGators are useful in any arena in life.  They served me well during my work internships and first full-time job.  While I was an undergraduate, I was president of a large society, and my experiences with the InvestiGators helped me to organize my team of officers, set goals for the year and plan meetings for the society.  I will take these skills with me for the rest of my life.

Notable Roles: Lab Safety Officer; member of KetoCarn and Acylcarn Groups

Time on Team: 1.5 years

Current Location: Pennsylvania as a Process Controls Engineer for Air Products & Chemicals

Current Email Address: cdaibes@gmail.com

Project: Human Carnitine Compartmentalization

Experimental Biology 2008 Abstract
Experimental Biology 2008 Poster

Notable Roles: Captain, President, IRB Officer, Hardware & Software Officer, Interview Officer

Time on Team: 3 years

Current Location: Orlando, Florida

Project: Acylcarnitine Profiles of Healthy Young Adults on a Ketogenic Diet

The InvestiGators has had a profound impact on both my personal and professional lives. It is not until my experience in this lab that I was pushed to my limits, making my potentials reality. Because of the quality of work that is expected here, I now have great confidence that I am prepared for any and all future endeavors.  I am fortunate that Dr. Borum allowed me to participate in meaningful research and I have chosen to continue on that career path.

Notable Roles: Captain, IACUC Officer, GCRC Coordinator, Biohazard

Time on Team: 1.5 years

Current Location: Gainesville, Florida

Project: Carnitine Compartmentalization in the Piglet

Notable Roles: Computer Hardware & Software Officer, IACUC Officer, Lab Safety Officer, CRG Group Leader

Time on Team : 1 year

Major: Biology and Entrepreneurship

Future Plans: Pharmacy school

Project: Effect of Gender and Age on Carnitine Compartmentalization in the Normal Rat

Notable Roles: Computer Hardware & Software Officer, Lab Safety Officer, Website Officer

Time on Team: 3 years

Current Location: USF Medical School Tampa, Florida

Project: Dietary carnitine intake and its effect on urinary carnitine excretion.

What I learned from this experience:
1) How to practice good research procedures
2) How to perform various laboratory techniques
3) How to work with other members who have different backgrounds and disciplines
4) How to manage the lab, complying with all the regulations such as IRB and Biohazard
5) How to draw conclusions based on scientifically collected, calculated, and confirmed data
6) How to engage in discussions in academic manner
7) How to read scientific journal articles and what to get out from them, and
8) On the whole, how to become a professional researcher.

I realized I want to be a criminologist with concentration in toxicology after writing my thesis, “Dietary carnitine intake and its effect on urinary carnitine excretion.” Substances’ different effects on the body depending on their dosage deeply fascinated me, more than my desire to go to medical school. Thus, the greatest impact of this experience would be that all the skills and lessons I learnt as a member of the InvestiGators gave me courage and confidence in my decision ot pursue the study I had really wanted to do.

Notable Roles: HIPAA/IRB Officer

Time on Team: 3 years

Current Location: M.S. in forensic science at University of Illinois—Chicago. planning to pursue a Ph.D. in toxicology

Current Email Address: Dlee76@uic.edu

Project: Effects of Chemical Diabetes, Starvation, and Endocrine Hormones on Blood and Organ Carnitine Concentrations in Rats

Experimental Biology 2007 Abstract
Experimental Biology 2007 Poster

Experimental Biology 2008 Abstract
Experimental Biology 2008 Poster

The InvestiGators has had a profound effect on my life. During my time in IG, I had many new and wonderful experiences that are atypical of most undergraduate research positions. I had the opportunity to write a protocol for our piglet experiments, analyze and write up manuscripts based on carnitine data, learn more about running a website, work with human blood samples, present posters at national conferences, organize and lead my team, and through it all I was always treated as Dr. Borum's colleague. Because of IG, I have decided to go to graduate school to pursue a career in biomedical research. The InvestiGators is definitely a worthwhile experience that has helped me get to where I am today.

Notable Roles: Team Co-Captain, IACUC Officer, Lab/Radiation Safety Officer, Website Officer, IG President

Time on Team: 3.5 years

Current Location: Duke University Cell & Molecular Biology Graduate Program--Ph.D. candidate

Current Email Address: mcdonaldda@gmail.com

Project: Plasma Carnitinome of HIV Positive Pediatric Patients

When I first walked into the lab on the fourth floor of the Food Science and Human Nutrition department I had a multitude of expectations.  I expected to learn about carnitine, why it is important, and essential laboratory methods for conducting research.  I believed I would then apply this knowledge to a specific project in a team setting.  The InvestiGators Research Honor Society turned out to be so much more than I anticipated.  It has truly changed my life in the past two and a half years and helped to shape the person that I am today as well as the physician and scientist I will be in the future.  I have learned how to think and ask questions, read and write scientific papers, give presentations about my project, be a professional, lead a team, speak with patients and health care professionals, and surgical and sterile technique.  I have learned that there is so much more time in the day than I previously believed, that I can handle long days and stressful situations, and my strengths and weaknesses as a individual and a professional.  Dr. Borum, my colleagues, and others who have influenced my research have given me an invaluable insight into both science and myself; insight I don't think I could have experienced that to the same magnitude in any other undergraduate laboratory experience.  I will always remember and draw upon the incredible opportunities that were presented to me in the InvestiGators.

Notable Roles: Captain, Archiving Officer

Time on Team: 2.5 years

Current Location: UF Medical School

Project: Quantification of Seizures in Epileptic Patients on a Ketogenic Diet

I have had the opportunity to be a part of the InvestiGators for a little over a year and can say with no regret this commitment has been one of best choices of my life. The investigators helped mold me into the person I am today, both personally and professionally.

On a personal level, I have formed friendships with students of similar scientific interests and goals. Through interactions with these students I have learned the importance of trust and loyalty. I have also experienced the advantage of being pushed to strive for the highest level of performance. By being exposed to a large number of unique individuals, I have had the opportunity to learn something different from every student.

On a professional level, I have learned countless skills and information that I will treasure for life. I have learned to work in a team atmosphere as both a leader and learner. I have learned valuable scientific skills such as laboratory techniques, data analysis, assay procedures, and many other research procedures. Most importantly, I feel the InvestiGators has prepared me for whatever the future has in store for me.

Notable Roles: IRB/HIPPA Officer

Time on Team: 1 year

Current Location: University of Florida

Project: The Relationship of Ketogenic Therapy Prescription and Fatty Acid Profile Intake

I thought I had been invited into Dr. Borum’s lab solely to learn about Carnitine and laboratory techniques but, over the past two years, I have gained much more than that. I have been a researcher, a learner, a leader, and a team player. After spending 80 hours over the course of nine days to conduct surgeries, draw urine, draw blood, and feed a lab-created formula to neonatal piglets made me (and everyone else) realize that I am capable. Responsibilities such as training team members forced me to become proficient in all areas. As a result, I feel as though I have learned the ins and outs of data entry because of the Nutrition Data System for Research, and thoroughly appreciate the meaning of “sterile technique.” Every person who has spent at least a year as an InvestiGator has left learning something they never expected to learn about him or herself. I have learned my strengths and weaknesses—my passions and dislikes. I now know exactly how I want to impact society, through translational research and education. The InvestiGators and Dr. Borum pushed me every day to become a better individual, and I will always carry these experiences with me.

Notable Roles: Captain, Website Officer, Personnel Officer

Time on Team: 1.5 years

Current Location: Gainesville, Florida