This week, like always, we focused on our beloved lab animals and teaching colonies. The animals include teaching colonies of Prairie Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) and Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus), as well as different species of turtles. As future veterinarians, the well-being of all animals in our care continues to be a top priority, even during [...]

As the summer nears its inevitable end, more and more projects are awaiting their spotlight at the lab. This week, we focused on student projects and preparations for the student that are coming back from the field. And as always, we wanted to share the ins and outs of how to best survive the lab [...]

TT Leaders' Declassified Survival Guide- Disaster Version This week was quite an eventful one. Illinois and neighboring states experienced low air quality due to the Canadian wildfires (did someone say global warming?). Along with the polluted air, the residents of Urbana-Champaign also experienced thunderstorms and power outages that lasted days. These events inspired the special [...]

One of the most challenging aspects of being a scientist isn’t what you think it is. Sure, there are infinite puzzles to solve and obstacles to overcome; animals die, and foundations don’t give you the money you think you deserve. Well, those are just hockey players losing their teeth, and that’s just par for the [...]

Have you ever noticed how fast time passes during breaks? It is already the end of week 4 of summer break (!!!). I guess Janet Jackson was right; it is funny how time flies when you are having fun. As another field week is approaching, the team has been working a little extra hard this [...]

This week, it was time to roll up our sleeves, put on a lab coat, and analyze some of our own box turtle samples! We also had the opportunity to help our zoo residents with their projects, assist with other WEL student projects, and continue making progress on our own summer lab projects! Perfect, perfect, [...]

When I pictured my academic path, I rarely, if ever, thought about turtles. When I tell people I am a vet student, the most common response is: “Aw, you must really like dogs and cats.” And, of course, like most veterinary students (and people in general), I love our fluffy friends. But what about the [...]