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Michael Jaung is a fourth year student pursuing dual degrees in Microbiology and International Studies. He is currently doing research with faculty in the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Columbus Children's Hospital. After graduation, Michael plans on attending medical school as well as completing a graduate degree in Public Health.
What advice would you give to current undergraduates who want to get involved in research?
Patience and diligence are absolutely essential; it can be very frustrating when initially trying (and perhaps failing) to digest new information and master techniques. For me, I spent long hours culturing and treating cells in a deafening fume hood or learning statistical models. But slowly, this groundwork allows the many pieces of a research plan to begin to fall together. It is really an exhilarating feeling when all of the arduous and repetitious experiments lead to a fascinating result.
At the same time, do not feel like you must have everything planned explicitly from the outset. This is true whether you are looking for a project or if you are currently working on one. It is important to be flexible because research at all levels and in all disciplines has a certain amount of uncertainty. It is an ongoing process, and maintaining good communication with your mentor rather than following a strict itinerary will allow for the possibility for spontaneous and beneficial developments.
What specifically have you researched, and what projects are you currently working on?
I have pursued a few different research projects while at Ohio State. I began research in a hematology and oncology laboratory studying the regulation of natural killer cells of the immune system. During last summer, I completed a research project that was an anthropological survey studying the emergency health care system in the Dominican Republic through an OSU study abroad program. These two experiences have led to my current interest in the epidemiology of injuries among school-aged children in China with a research group at Columbus Children’s Hospital.
Can you explain how you actually conduct your research?
Research in public health differs from biomedical research in that it primarily consists of statistical analysis of surveys and databases. Instead of working at a bench top or animal room, research is performed in the field or through computer analysis. Despite these differences, the underlying principles are the same: identifying a problem and systematically pursuing an explanation using the scientific method. Instead of elucidating gene regulation pathway through biochemical experiments, complex sets of epidemiological variables must be sifted and analyzed in order to discern evidence of trends and patterns.
What were the benefits of participating in research?
Beyond the direct growth of my knowledge of my research topics and development of presentation and writing skills, my experiences have truly changed the way I analyze information and situations. Research has afforded me the opportunity to literally see the world and to investigate the forces shaping it, but more importantly, it has made me examine myself and evaluate my own goals for the future.
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