People connected with The Larochelle Lab
at Clark University
David Grimaldi, undergraduate '09
In the lab: Ever since Earth Science with Mr. Colby, my first high school science course, my largest aspirations have been entwined with the subject. Since then, Biology and Chemistry have secured their places as my favorites. At first I thought I was interested in strictly human medicine and I wanted to be a Physician. The years have gone by, however, and I've become interested with the vast, seemingly innumerable fields of scientific study. Finding out I like Biology and Chemistry was easy. Sifting through these massive fields to find the specific aspects I am most interested in, however, is not. After a long investigation, I decided to request to volunteer in the Larochelle Laboratory. This decision stemmed from my interest in the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum, which is the focus of this lab. The life cycle of Dictyostelium was one of the most interesting things I have ever come across in the field. This organism can undergo many remarkable steps that I simply had to be a part of studying. Also, many abilities are available to Dictyostelium that are beyond most other living things. Being allowed the opportunity to participate in research such as this has been a desire of mine for some time. I applied for and was appointed a Frederick M. and Alice Murdock Research Fellow. I hope to build insight on the process of cytokinesis, the model organism Dictyostelium, laboratory techniques common to my field of study, and other information necessary to continue in this field. I'm sure my future holds many rewarding and educational experiences.
Out of Lab During the summer, I love to travel with my family and friends. I have been many places in the United States, but I am driven to see as much of the world as I can. I believe that the best and most rewarding studying comes from group collaboration. During stressful times of the school year you can usually find me in the library or cafe with books and friends.