Harshitha Balla

What does research mean to you?
Most of us learn through what has been presented to us either through class or in textbooks. Where is this information coming from? How did anyone discover any of this? Research is how we know so much about this world. It is the pillar of scientific discovery. Through research, we can actively partake in the processes that result in what we know today and what we want to know tomorrow.
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Tell us about your journey.
My first venture into research was when I joined the Kroener Lab at UT Dallas during my freshman year. In here, I explored the effects of vagus nerve stimulation on the extinction of cocaine-seeking in rats. I performed stereotaxic surgeries to implant components and electrodes into rats to measure their behavior. This research is ongoing and preliminary findings indicate that vagus nerve stimulation is correlated with a significant decrease in drug-seeking behavior. After COVID restrictions were lifted, I returned back and am currently working to pursue an independent project regarding brain slice image analysis. Even during my freshman year, I would see the posters from the previous Green Fellows around campus and knew that when the time came I would apply. Understandably, when I received my acceptance, I was absolutely ecstatic. My research at UTSW has been based in pharmacology- a subject I wasn’t familiar with. It was very challenging but I felt myself grow mentally and absorb a lot of information in such a short amount of time.

What was your favorite part about the program?
This was more of a personal journey for me as it was the first time I wasn’t taking classes and was working full-time. I learned how to be an actual “adult”. Managing the fellowship amongst other school-related activities was extremely challenging but I eventually got the hang of it and was able to make the most out of my time here. My favorite part about the fellowship was being able to truly figure out who I am outside of the classroom and connecting with people in the fellowship and members of my lab.

What was the biggest thing that you learned?
The biggest thing I learned was definitely how to allow myself to make mistakes; it’s almost inevitable. That is what this experience is for- to make mistakes now and make new ones later on and constantly learn. No one is going to expect you to get it right the first time and you shouldn’t beat yourself up about it either. Instead, it is more productive to reflect on why you made the mistake and ensure that it doesn’t happen again.

 

Advice for Future Green Fellows

​The average amount of time that it takes a person to get accustomed to a full-time role is 3 months. This is why it’s extremely difficult to go through the fellowship seamlessly. There will be many moments of uncertainty and you will start to doubt yourself and your abilities. Don’t view this opportunity as the end goal, treat it as if it is the first step to the hundreds of other opportunities you will have in your career and use it to learn more about yourself and what works for you.