Caleb Gooden NCUR 2021 Spotlight

 CALEB GOODEN

 Sophomore, Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology major with a minor in Microbiology

Research Mentor: Dr. Arthur Hunt

View Caleb's NCUR 2021 Abstract and Presentation Information

I enjoy research because.... "I am able to contribute to the collective wealth of scientific understanding while building a foundation that will be beneficial for continuing my education and developing my career. Additionally, the subjects I research mirror the topics in my classes, blending to enhance my success in both."

How did you first get interested in undergraduate research at UK?

"I knew I wanted to do research when I went to freshman orientation. The advisor helping me that day, Dr. Sharyn Perry, recommended Dr. Hunt's lab to me since his background in RNA and post-transcriptional regulation interested me. She emailed Dr. Hunt to put in a good word for me and I've been working with him ever since. And as a bonus, Dr. Perry works across the hall!"

How long have you been engaged in undergraduate research?

"September of my freshman year."

What has been the most exciting aspect of your research so far?

"The adrenaline rush of seeing supportive results in a bioinformatic analysis as part of another project I had been working on for two months."

What advice would you give to other UK students thinking about doing research?

"I would advise speaking with as many professors as possible in order to find what you like working with the best. Also, remember that as an undergraduate you won't know as much as the other people in the lab. You won't know what's going on most of the time and you will feel lost, and that's okay. If you stick with it and put in work, everything will click eventually."