Need some suggestions on carrying out a research using a SEM

[Smooth Operater]

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Hello guys! My biology prof is going to select one student from her class to perform any research the student wants on a Scanning Electron Microscope. She will teach the student to use the microscope first, then the student has to perform a research on his/her chosen topic and write a paper about it later. . But, I am only a 2nd yr univeristy undergrad, so I don't know any "HOT" and "INTERESTING" biology subjects atm that I can look into. The project should focus on form and function relationship of a specieman. I hope you guys can provides some suggestions on what I can research on using a Scanning Electron Microscope. It will difinitely help me tremedously on writing my proposal! Thank you very much!

 

[ParisHilton]

How about looking for your genitalia? 😉 j/k...I couldn't resist! "There it is! Oops!...nevermind...that's just a quark..."

 

[ColoMD]

I know using a SEM sounds interesting...but believe me it's not. I've spent more time than I care to recall with TEMs and SEMs and it really is quite dull work. The preparations are tedious and lengthy and the results often mixed. There are doctoral students who spend years trying to finish research using these techniques often with poor outcomes.

My advice would be to spend your undergrad years in a more exciting environment. If you want to do research, that's great. There are hundreds of kinds of research fields that are well-suited for an undergrad pre-med type! Just don't pick this because you think it will sound good on your med school application. Sure it sounds fancy, but making platinum slide preparations is pretty dull and insignificant.