Hello again!!
I’m very sad that there is only one week left to enjoy such a wonderful place and learn more from an amzing lab. San Diego has exceeded expectations and has given me a vision into the future and possible careers I want to pursue.
This week I have primarily been focusing on creating a few presentations to give this upcoming week. One based on a very fascinating paper talking about the concept of compulsion, which I do believe I talked about last week, and what it means in relation to OCD and addiction. As well as creating a project with Jay, we got the opportunity to work with sliced rat brains cut at 40 microns. Our job was to pick through them and identify certain brain regions that Sierra is interested in studying to further her research. Some of the regions we searched through was the Basal Nucleus Stria Terminalis (BNST), the Locus Coeruleus, Periaqueductal gray, and several other regions involved in the processies she is styding. The slices are beautiful to look at!
GWAS has been going well, they are close to the end of this experimental round and will soon be sacrificed in the name of science. The lab also went to a lecture given by George Koob, the grandfather of addiction research! His whole lecture was extremly interesting and I learned a great deal.
Apart from continuing the research I have been working with Sierra’s fiancée on the ACT, as well as going to the beach and learning a lot from the lab.
This weekend I was honored to attend the Hall of Fame with my grandmaster in American Kenpo Karate. Many styles of martial artist attended the banquet, I met some wonderful people and world champion fighters. It was one of the most memorable weekends ever! 
We also went to an Angels game, and a concert at the Orange County fair.
I’m sad this is the last week here in San Diego…
Hope to see you again for the last report next week!
-Danika Petit
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