What Does the New Year Bring?

I took some time off from the lab this holiday season for the first time since I began this project, and it was nice to rest my brain before getting back into the lab. As the final days of 2021 wind down, and the upcoming semester gets closer and closer, I want to take the time to update everyone on what 2022 will bring for my research. I have 1 more field season to complete (hopefully at the end of January), which means that I will be done collecting samples for the first section of my research. Of course there is a lot of processing work for the samples, but the work is more manageable, given the quantity of samples this season. We will still be sorting out and counting nematodes, extracting and photographing microplastics, but the majority of this semester will be analysis and writing. I must bring all of the particles to the laser lab for identification and then I can start evaluating the data I have. I am grateful for the microplastic retention trays that I purchased, shown in the picture, because they are so helpful for keeping track of all the particles. In the picture here, I split the plastics from one sample across two wells because there were so many. Emily will have a lot of particle size analysis to conduct, but she has made great progress, and I cannot wait until she presents the work at the end of the semester.

In the meantime, I also discussed some changes to my research with my advisor and co-advisor. We decided that my research questions were too broad and there wasn't a specific focal point that tied all the parts together. I am really happy with the new direction because it means moving pieces around, rather than throwing out months/years of work I have finished. What does that mean for the blog? Less nematode content--for now. Nematode content will pick up again this summer when I go back to classify the nematodes I removed from the samples. Rearranging my dissertation also means that I may (keyword) have more time to relax--if I decide to use that time. Since I will focus on the laser analysis, much of my time will be spent in Tallahassee rather than driving back and forth from the marine lab. I am also excited to see what Morgan, my research assistant, will decide to focus on for her research project and I can't wait to assist her endeavors.

I hope you had a manageable 2021, like I did, and that you can have an even better 2022. See you next week!

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