Lyric Waugh pursued a summer experience like never before through the Veterinary Research Scholars Program.
I am Lyric Waugh, a second-year student at Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine, and this past summer I explored an area of veterinary medicine I never thought I would. I was one of three students who had the honor to be a part of the Boehringer-Ingelheim Veterinary Research Scholars Program (VRSP). I had never seen myself exploring research, but when I began to realize that — unlike most students in my class — I did not have a plan for the summer, I began to panic. During my time of distress, I heard about VRSP through our immunology professor, who was looking to host a student in the program. Though I did not end up with her as my mentor, this was the opening to how I would spend my summer.
I applied to the VRSP and was matched, based on my interest in bovine reproduction, with our Theriogenology Professor, Jennifer Koziol. Our research project evaluated the variability among skilled evaluators in assessing sperm morphology by video capture compared to conventional approaches. To begin our project, we had to collect samples from six bulls to make our stained slides. We spent three days in Throckmorton, Texas, on a ranch assisting with breeding soundness exams (BSEs). Six bulls were randomly selected to be a part of our project. Not only did I get to assist this time but I also had the opportunity to assist in three more BSE experiences with my mentor.
After collecting samples from the bulls, the next step of my project was to capture images of sperm cells to be annotated as part of our study. This gave me the opportunity to work in the lab on a microscope that could take images. My mentor and I also utilized the ten-headed microscope on campus to study different morphological defects in sperm cells and compare them to what was normal. This was a valuable lesson as it helped me understand what our evaluators would be looking for. Once my slides and images were sent to our evaluators, I had some free time while waiting for their results.
This opened me up to another research opportunity as our Associate Professor of Reproductive Physiology, John Gibbons, was working on a research project studying in vitro fertilization. With my interest in bovine reproduction, I knew this was an opportunity I could not miss out on. I assisted him in aspirating oocytes from bovine ovaries and was able to follow the project through the oocytes developing in vitro. These two research opportunities allowed me a chance to author an abstract and poster of my own as well as be a part of the abstract written by our reproductive physiology professor over his project.
My summer was completed by a trip to St. Paul, Minnesota, for the National Veterinary Research Scholars Program Symposium. At the symposium, I presented my poster about the findings of my research and attended a couple sessions about research happening in the field of veterinary medicine. This was a great opportunity to expand my knowledge of research and the benefits that come along with it while getting to network with other students and advisors within the program from schools across the country.