Research
Scanning Tunneling Microscopy of Quadruplex DNA
In the summer of 1997, I had the fabulous opportunity to work with Dr. James Vesenka, Indira Kumar, and Tera Muir at California State University on a project imaging "G-wires," or quadruplex DNA. The project involved setting up slides for imaging by micropipetting the G-wires on a mica surface and imaging using scanning tunneling microscopy. After the images were captured we used a computer program to ascertain the heights of peaks and valleys in the images with the aim of finding the best ionic solution for the highest image resolution.
The research provided a great experience with an excellent researcher (Dr. Vesenka), with very finicky equipment, and an article published in the Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. The Role of Retrieval Practice in Directed Forgetting Mechanisms
After taking several classes on cognitive psychology and learning mechanisms, I applied to the Psychology Honor's program at Fresno State and had the pleasure of working with Dr. Barbara Basden as my advisor. Mechanistic cognitive structures were fascinating to me, making the research into directed forgetting all the more appealing. Working with student volunteers, we were able to demonstrate the impact that "forget" cues have on students when trying to remember two lists of words, compared to students remembering the same two lists, but not given a "forget" cue. Even when retrieval practice of items relative to the "forget" cue was later encouraged, the cue was too powerful for effective retrieval.
In May of 2000, I was able to present our research at a Cognitive Psychology conference at UCLA, and the research was published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology in 2003. Classical Conditioning Effects on Ataxic and Feeding Behavior of Rats
During the summer of 1999, I was a research assistant in the laboratory of Dr. Cody Brooks. Having had a background working in a cognitive psych laboratory using human subjects, a behaviorist laboratory using animal subjects, namely rats, provided a different research experience altogether. Dr. Brooks was working on many projects simultaneously; one project involved observing how classically conditioned environmental cues impact the tolerance of rats to ethanol, as evidenced by their ability to maintain their balance on various ramp inclines. Other experiments explored the impact of other classically conditioned cues on rat feeding behavior.
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Publications
Muir, T., Morales, E., Root, J., Kumar, I., Garcia, B., Vellandi, C., & Vesenka, J. (1998). The morphology of duplex and quadruplex DNA on mica. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A: Vacuum, Surfaces, and Films, 16(3), 1172-1177.
Vesenka, J. & Morales, E. (2002). Scanning Probe Microscopy in Biology with Potential Applications in Forensics. In Atomic Force Microscopy/ Scanning Tunneling Microscopy 3(pp. 31 –48). Springer, Boston, MA.
Basden, B. H., Basden, D. R., & Morales, E. (2003). The role of retrieval practice in directed forgetting.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 29(3), 389-397.
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Image Credits:
Image credit of the Milky Way Galaxy: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (SSC/Caltech). Retrieved from: https://astronomynow.com/2015/06/07/charting-the-milky-way-from-the-inside-out/
Image of vintage periodic table of elements retrieved from: https://printmeposter.com/blog/periodic-table-poster-efficient-visual-aid-for-a-chemistry-class-and-a-great-decoration-for-walls/
Image of Michelangelo's God and Adam's hands retrieved from: https://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/2010/05/michelangelo-and-neuroanatomy.html
Image credit of the Milky Way Galaxy: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (SSC/Caltech). Retrieved from: https://astronomynow.com/2015/06/07/charting-the-milky-way-from-the-inside-out/
Image of vintage periodic table of elements retrieved from: https://printmeposter.com/blog/periodic-table-poster-efficient-visual-aid-for-a-chemistry-class-and-a-great-decoration-for-walls/
Image of Michelangelo's God and Adam's hands retrieved from: https://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/2010/05/michelangelo-and-neuroanatomy.html