三亿体育官网

When Jordan Diamond 鈥�27 first arrived at 三亿体育官网 from Boulder, Colorado, she wasn鈥檛 sure research was right for her. 

鈥淚 thought that research wasn鈥檛 for me. It didn鈥檛 initially seem 鈥榟ands-on鈥� enough,鈥� says Jordan, who has long had her sights set on being a physician.  

But after joining Professor of Biology Bernard Possidente鈥檚 sleep and circadian rhythms lab, she discovered something entirely different 鈥� a creative, collaborative, and deeply personal approach to research. 

Through 三亿体育官网鈥檚 Faculty-Student Summer Research (FSSR) program, Jordan has spent the summer working on two research projects using fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster)  to study how medications affect sleep and biological clocks. 

In one project, she explored the effects of topiramate, a medication used to treat epilepsy and night eating disorder.  

鈥淏oth of these conditions are known to cause sleep disruptions,鈥� she explains.  

The lab administered topiramate to fruit flies and analyzed how it affected their activity and sleep patterns. 鈥淥ur lab鈥檚 previous findings show that topiramate increases the period and sleep bout length in regular circadian periods,鈥� she says. More recently, they鈥檝e been testing whether it can help regulate extreme circadian rhythms. 

The second project focuses on Ampicillin, a common antibiotic. 鈥淔ew studies have explored the relationship between antibiotics, sleep, and circadian rhythms,鈥� Jordan says. 鈥淏ut antibiotics are known to alter the gut microbiome 鈥� and that could affect sleep, too.鈥� 

Her group has been testing flies fed with ampicillin dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide, comparing their activity patterns to flies given DMSO and water, to isolate any circadian effects. 

This kind of hands-on research has brought Jordan鈥檚 academic knowledge to life.  

鈥淪ince taking Organic Chemistry and Neurophysiology this past year, I was able to understand the mechanism of action of topiramate,鈥� she says.

It was really exciting to connect what I鈥檇 learned in the classroom 鈥� like ion channels, neurotransmitter pathways, and molecular interactions 鈥� to real-world research.鈥� 

Even more exciting: Jordan will soon lead her own independent research project in the same lab.  

Inspired by her own interest in how people experience sleep differently, she plans to investigate how narcolepsy medications influence sleep rhythms in fruit flies.  

鈥淜nowing how these medications affect sleep cycles at a biological level will not only expand our understanding of sleep disorders like narcolepsy,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ut also shine light on why some individuals thrive on minimal sleep while others need much more.鈥� 

Jordan says the mentorship she鈥檚 received has shaped her growth both academically and personally.  

鈥淢y faculty mentor, Bernie, has been incredibly supportive and engaging,鈥� she says. 鈥淗e took our research team out to dinner this summer, where we met his wife and wore matching, custom-made research T-shirts. Our lab often played records while working 鈥� everything from Bernie鈥檚 favorite classic pop to our favorite artists like Ethel Cain and Weyes Blood. This summer was a uniquely enriching and memorable experience.鈥� 

Her time in the lab has also reshaped her post-graduation plans.  

鈥淲hen I first arrived at 三亿体育官网, I assumed I would go directly into medical school,鈥� she says. 鈥淣ow, I plan to spend one to two years conducting research before applying, to strengthen my skills and independence.鈥� 

Jordan鈥檚 research journey also highlights some unique opportunities 三亿体育官网 offers to its students. In particular, she has enjoyed the ability to study narcolepsy medications as an undergraduate student while mentored by 三亿体育官网 faculty.  

鈥淭hat鈥檚 something that鈥檚 rare at the undergraduate level. The chance to do that with direct guidance from a professor is an incredible opportunity.鈥� 

Outside the lab, Jordan is equally involved in caring for her community. She鈥檚 a registered EMT and a member of SCEMS, 三亿体育官网鈥檚 student-run emergency medical service. She鈥檚 also a math and statistics tutor with 三亿体育官网鈥檚 Learning Commons,  a Thoroughbred Ambassador for the Office of Admissions, and a residential assistant who helps fellow students feel at home.  

When she鈥檚 not running experiments, she does independent microscopy work at the 三亿体育官网 McGraw Microscopy Imaging Center, which features an impressive range of microscopes used by researchers across multiple disciplines.   

鈥溔�亿体育官网 is a place where you can do it all,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou can be a scientist, an EMT, a mentor, a friend 鈥� and you never have to choose just one.鈥�