Growing up, I was surrounded by family members who struggled with obesity and were subsequently diagnosed with diabetes. Because of this, my mother changed her diet and warned me that if I didn’t change my diet as an adult, I would quickly follow in the path of my relatives. I was left feeling like I lacked control over my own health and it frightened me. Fast-forward to my third year at Arizona State University, I found a research lab studying diabetes and obesity that was searching for new undergraduate researchers to join, and I immediately applied. Joining this research lab has given me the opportunity to learn more about these two subjects and the knowledge I’ve gained has allowed me to gain a sense of control over my health that I was missing.
So far, as a part of this research lab, I have both assisted other undergraduates on their research projects and taken the responsibility of leading my own research project. Specifically, one of my roles in the lab has been to measure and record the daily weights of rats, the food they are given, and the left-over food from the previous day.
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Being accepted into the 4+1 program would allow me to accomplish these goals. The research project I plan on beginning in my lab is the exploration of the effects the drugs melanocortin and leptin have on the energy intake and output in rats. Hopefully, this research will find meaningful data that can help lead to improved treatment for obesity and diabetes. Another reason I would like to be accepted into the 4+1 program is because I love being a part of the research community here at Arizona State University with the variety of opportunities it provides. Lastly, one of the most important reasons I would like to be accepted into this program is because it is the most time-effective way for me to earn my master’s