Step one to a great and long career.....
Well, it usually helps to not freak out and screw up on your first few days. Mission accomplished, folks! ;-) I had no idea what to expect going in there that first time. As it is, Professor Reid drove us yesterday, and was showing me the back way. After the 30th or so turn, I decided to figure out the highway version of this trip for the next time (which turns out got me there 10 minutes faster today). The only thing worse than city driving is small city driving. Every other street is small and only goes for about a block before dumping off into another road. Anyways, we get there just in time for the daily routine, which involves weighing, checking, and resupplying the rats. Yes, rats...white tiny 200gm furballish rats with long segmented tails and bright clear red eyes. Really kinda cute and not much worse-looking than your average hamster (though a lot more active and with very curious personalities). I watched professor Reid handling them, at which point he motioned me in out of the three people there, and had me jumping in to handle them. He showed me some quick tips, them had me handle the rest. It was a bit bizarre, seeing as I had not had a pet or handled such a furball in some 13 or so years. But they are nicely tempered and only a few are a little elusive and overactive while handling. I didn't drop or lose control of a single one of the critters, though one did take a tiny swipe at my palm. Luckily, it didn't even make a mark, but I may start wearing gloves nonetheless (not like I need a second death germ). :-P So he had me get up in the subsequent group meeting and share my research into a new drug in study by the FDA, and I went back again today to do the care along with a lab assistant who studies at Siena. Now I'm gonna start working into a routine of going there 3-4 days a week to do the daily recordings and care, and in about a month, they start a new project. Hopefully, by then I can come up with something good. :-)