Hey! I'm excited to welcome you to my blog page! I'm Andrea Agola, a '26 born in Kenya and raised just outside of D.C. As the eldest child of three, I'm the first to go off to college! I'm glad Dartmouth will enable me to explore both the sciences and humanities. Don't even get me started on the numerous extracurriculars that pique my interest, like the Dartmouth Center for Social Impact, research projects and dance groups. Follow along as I navigate this unique college experience!
Academic Program
Sociology major, International Studies Minor, Pre-Med
Favorite Thing Right Now
Studying abroad on the French LSA+ in Toulouse, France!
If you remember from my winter term preview, this term (and spring term!) I am doing research in the Dartmouth Biomedical Engineering Center for Orthopaedics as a WISP (Women in Science Project) intern! WISP is a great program that matches undergraduate women with faculty mentors in paid, part-time research internships in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. WISP internships provide early hands-on research experience in labs all across campus and at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. There is also access to mentoring from peers, research scientists and faculty members. After a period of contacting different professors/labs, participating in interviews, and ranking my preferred labs during fall term, I have been so grateful that I matched with Professor Doug Van Citters' lab focusing on joint (knee, hip, shoulder) implant research.
Over the last few weeks, I have already gained so much knowledge. I'm now more aware about biomaterials and biocompatibility in orthopaedic practice. I've done readings and experiments on things like wettability, mechanical properties, infection from biofilms, and an important compound with a long name that I can proudly say I've memorized now–ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). I've also been trained on machinery like the instron machine, scanning electron microscope, and Keyence imaging machine. While I was mostly working on imaging this last week, next week I will be frequenting the MShop–Dartmouth's machine and makerspace workshop–more.
A picture of a lab skeleton!
Just recently, I listened to a project presentation put on by researchers in the lab. Most are graduate students who get the chance to mentor us WISP interns in a project. After getting the chance to hear about a handful of the many interesting projects going on in the lab, I matched with one of the graduate student researchers for a project focusing on Carbon-UHMWPE Impact Testing and Fractography. Now that I have picked a project, my schedule is a bit more fixed as I come into the lab for 2 hours almost every weekday.
Going forward, I am working on streamlining my research focus and creating an experimental design. Because of the initial two-term nature of this internship, I will present a project progress report towards the end of this term and then I will present a poster on my work and findings at the Karen E. Wetterhahn Science Symposium in May of spring term. This symposium will be an amazing opportunity, as my PI (principal investigator) Doug Van Citters explained how an important audience including people like the vice president of a big biomaterial production company will be eagerly waiting to hear from a specialized key informant–aka me!
At Dartmouth, there is an undergraduate requirement for language; after all, it is the liberal arts! Fulfilling this requirement looks different for various people and I will focus on my experience.
Traditionally, Dartmouth students take three courses during a term, but I decided to take four courses this term! Learn about course load and the academic system at Dartmouth.
As I approach the halfway mark of my Dartmouth journey this spring, I find myself reflecting on the significance of distributive and world culture requirements in shaping my academic experience.
Witnessing an eclipse was one of the most exciting days in my life to date, and a solid reminder of our place in this universe. Read on to hear about it!
