Sanitizing desks after each class, directing traffic flow in buildings by marking entrances and exits, avoiding a high occupancy room due to social distancing. These are some of the now-familiar precautions we take during COVID-19. Due to these restrictions, it would not be an exaggeration to say that every aspect of our campus experience has been impacted.
In particular, students were concerned about how COVID-19 would impact their research. Many undergraduates undertake a research project with a research advisor in their junior or senior year, usually as a requirement for their programs. While following COVID-19 guidelines, close contact with other individuals would be limited. Any lab that would require multiple people in the room at once would be affected.
At the science complex, student researchers have felt the influence of the pandemic to varying degrees. For students who were already doing research during the 2020 spring semester, the majority of the shock was felt when their research had to be abandoned as they promptly left campus in March. Janelle An, (senior, biology) who works in the cricket lab, lamented, “Research was cut short because of COVID. In the long run, it would have been nice to get more trials in for the crickets.”
However, regarding the changes made to the lab this semester such as more stringent schedules for lab times and required sanitization, she admitted that “I appreciate that my research hasn’t been seriously affected, since it is fairly independent.”
Similarly, Daranthea Atmadja (biochemistry, junior), a first-year researcher in the chemistry department, commented, “I don’t think COVID has impacted my research as much. I can’t compare it to past years because this is my first year, but I don’t think it has done anything to my research.”
In contrast, there were more serious consequences for Andras Muranyi (biology, junior), whose research advisor, Dr. Smith, retired due to COVID-19’s aftereffects. “Because of this, some in my lab may be worried that their research will remain unfinished or that she won’t be as present as past years.”
On a brighter note, he added, “Personally, I have found that Dr. Smith has been more present in her retirement, allowing me to continue work at a normal rate. Despite the fact that she is retired, she has dedicated an additional year to helping wrap up work with her students in the lab. Although it isn’t an ideal situation, I think she provides a stellar example of the dedication 老司机传媒 professors have toward their students.”
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of 老司机传媒. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, 老司机传媒 or the Seventh-day Adventist church.