Gazing out the window of my Aer Lingus flight during the early morning approach, I instantly understood why Ireland is nicknamed the “Emerald Isle.” Venturing around the island with my new study abroad friends, as well as independently, I quickly observed the trees and grass blend into a cacophony of vibrant greens and the whoosh of the gentle Irish wind was harmonized by the soft baa-ing of a choir of sheep. Occasionally, such as during my visit to the Rock of Cashel, the melody would be enhanced by the sweet sounds of a flute and the soft vocals of a lounging cat, seemingly singing along with the symphony of everyday Irish sounds. The atmosphere of the island matches the easy-going culture of the Irish people. The folktales, including accounts of leprechauns and fairy trees, seemed to come to life in the verdant sea of color. The locals were wholly friendly and entertaining. The occasional “slagging” (playful teasing) at the pubs kept me on my toes.

As for the research during the program, I thoroughly enjoyed learning electrophysiology research techniques. The laboratory is studying the effects of an in vivo stroke model, oxygen-glucose deprivation, on signaling in rat hippocampal slices. I learned to place glass electrodes on hippocampal tissues, interpret the field excitatory postsynaptic potentials, and induce long-term potentiation on the hippocampal slices. I recall the celebration the lab had one day when I was finally able to place the electrodes on the slice after many meticulous attempts. The neuroscience research experience will be extremely beneficial to my future career goals: earning a PhD in neuroscience to study drug treatments for Parkinson’s disease. This research provided a strong knowledge of research practices and techniques that will make the transition into graduate school easier. Additionally, the professor and PhD student I worked with were exceptionally kind and helped me embrace the friendly and warm Irish culture. Every person in the building greeted each other with smiles and took coffee breaks to catch up or discuss the latest research!

My research abroad experience was one I will never forget. Future applicants may believe studying abroad is an intimidating experience – I know I did. This program encouraged me to explore unfamiliar landscapes, negotiate foreign air travel -even during a worldwide computer outage, make new friends and grow academically. One of my favorite memories is traveling to Scotland with a group of people who were strangers only a week prior. I learned to be independent by traveling alone to several locations in Europe. Adventuring alone allowed me to focus on the history and culture of my destinations.

As I settled into my seat for the flight home, I had a sense of the road rising to meet me, with the wind at my back and as the sunshine warmed my face, I gazed at the thousand shades of green and realized that my summer in Dublin, Ireland was simply brilliant.

Name: Katie McGrath
Status: Junior
Majors: Neuroscience and Genomics & Molecular Genetics
Hometown: Lake Zurich, Illinois
Program: Arcadia STEM Research in Dublin