Over the summer, I worked in Dr. Vierling's Lab on a project involving Class I small heat shock proteins (sHSP) in Arabidopsis thaliana. These proteins are crucial for maintaining protein structure, especially in high-temperature conditions, making them increasingly important in the face of climate change. Our primary goal was to create null CI sHSP mutant plants using CRISPR-Cas technology. My time in the lab was spent screening seeds and conducting Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) experiments. I also gained valuable hands-on experience in plant care and backcrossing techniques. Dr. Vierling's guidance was instrumental in helping me navigate the complexities of these processes. I am very grateful for this opportunity and I am excited to continue my research in Dr.Vierling’s lab this school year.
