Fatima Mohammed is a senior biology major. She is an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Ryan Norris' lab. Her 2023 research project was "Evaluating the geographic distribution and the evolutionary history of field and juniper voles (genus Microtus) in Northern Pakistan through molecular phylogenetics." She is working on her research thesis for the 2024 Undergraduate Research Forum.
Norris lab: Fatima Mohammed
Fatima Mohammed and her labmates look at some of the data in her 2023 undergraduate research project.
Question How has working together as a team helped your undergraduate research efforts?
Answer
Working together with my research group helped me realize that it’s ok to not completely understand the work that we do and that we are there to learn together and help where we can. Teamwork can allow us to pool our resources and accommodate each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Question How do you think belonging to a close-knit group enhances your college experience either in the lab or beyond?
Answer
Some of my research group members are friends I’ve known for three years now, and others are friends I just got to know last semester. I’ve grown in my experiences as an undergraduate student, and I am able to relate to members who did research with me and help those who are new to the scene, and assure them when they need it. Research involves a lot of trust in your fellow members; I know that if I ever need help with research work or schoolwork in general, I can count on my members to help me.
Question What is your favorite part of having labmates?
Answer
Spending time appreciating their work and asking them questions about what they’re doing. We all work on a different topic in our lab group, including dissecting, assorting specimens, or just reading up on the material. It’s very interesting to see how their work relates to my own and how we can connect on certain ideas involving research.
Question Do you spend time with each other beyond your labwork?
Answer
Beyond just research, we spend time together in the Perry Webb and work on homework. We also help each other out while studying for exams and occasionally go out to eat together, too!
Question Have you made connections with alumni of the lab? How has that influenced your path or work?
Answer
I’m very good friends with a past student of the lab group, Shivani Bhatt. Her work and thesis have been the biggest inspiration for me to write my own thesis, and I make sure to keep her updated on my progress or ask her any questions that I have!