太阳城娱乐官网提供了大量的教育和课外活动，从校内体育到独特的俱乐部和组织，再到本科生和研究生的研究，学生们有自己的选择。

For Blase Rokusek, the opportunity to participate in research in his undergraduate program fueled his desire to pursue a degree in the biology master’s program, while also providing new experiences and uncovering new passions.  

“I have always been very interested in science. I had some experience with research during my undergraduate time at 太阳城娱乐官网 with Dr. Lanz in the psychology department, and I absolutely loved the process of research,” he said.  

The thesis option for a master’s degree in Biology gave Rokusek the opportunity to gain more research experience. He has published work in 太阳城娱乐官网’s 本科 Research Journal and the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society Educator. 他的作品也被接受并出版于《心理学教与学奖学金》。 

在他的研究项目中，Rokusek与多个部门的教职员工一起工作。 来自生物系的珍妮特·斯蒂尔和金·卡尔森博士。 Krista Forrest， Chris Waples和心理学系的Julie Lanz。  

虽然研究吸引了Rokusek进入这个项目，但教学已经成为他研究生经历中不可或缺的一部分。  

“My favorite thing about the program is the opportunity to teach and work with students. I have been a teaching assistant for the biology department and really love that experience,” Rokusek said.  

Rokusek目前不仅担任助教，而且还将教育纳入他的研究项目中。 他和兰茨博士的一项研究包括研究教授本科生心理批判性思维技能的有效方法。  

他参与的另一个项目涉及大学解剖学和生理学的有效补充教学。  

“I was a supplemental instruction leader with the Learning Commons for two years,” Rokusek said. “It was really cool to get to have empirical evidence that [showed] what we do as supplemental instruction leaders is helping students to learn more effectively.” 

虽然他目前的研究项目不包括他其他工作的教育方面，但由于长期影响，Rokusek喜欢在生物学项目中向他展示的工作。 All current projects being conducted reside within Dr. Carlson’s lab.  

Fruit flies comprise the focus of two of Rokusek’s projects.  

“We are attempting to further characterize a fruit fly virus. One aspect of this is determining whether the virus infects the nervous system of the fruit flies,” Rokusek said.  

这项研究的结果可能对未来的研究非常有益，特别是那些涉及人类的研究。  

“The information we garner about this virus can be informative for other genetically similar viruses that infect humans,” he said.  

果蝇的另一个研究问题涉及环境影响及其更广泛的意义。  

“Also in the Carlson lab, we are working on a project examining lipids in heat tolerance in fruit flies. This work will have implications in the coming years as insects will have to cope with rising temperatures as a result of rapid climate change,” he said.  

除了在卡尔森基因实验室研究果蝇之外，Rokusek还参与了一个研究抗病毒药物的项目。  

“We are also working on a project that is testing the effectiveness of a drug with broad-spectrum antiviral activity,” Rokusek stated.  

His decision to pursue a master’s degree in Biology opened new doors for Rokusek and left him with a positive impression of the university, its faculty, and its research possibilities. 

“I think that 太阳城娱乐官网 does a good job of being an institution that really focuses on teaching, and [the university] has some really good teachers,” he said.