The following presentation includes the semester-long research that I conducted under the supervision of Dr. Erin Shanle. I presented this material to fellow peers that were conducting independent research and their respective faculty advisors at the Spring Symposium at Longwood. During this research, I was able to develop a novel question and develop a plan for how to execute the experimentation of the research question. This independent research was conducted apart from a traditional lecture and lab course. From this, I learned how to operate in a research lab, keep a detailed and thorough lab notebook, troubleshoot minor problems that arise in the lab, and explain my research to other professionals. Advancing in my biological career, I can use these skills to continue to operate proficiently in a professional setting.