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Sophomore Erin Wolfson (Haddonfield, N.J.) is conducting significant research that could help find a cure for epilepsy.
Under the guidance of Elaine Reynolds, assistant professor of biology, Wolfson is studying fruit flies with genetic mutations that cause seizures and paralysis. She is drawing conclusions about the disease by observing differences in the number of mitochondria, mechanisms that convert food to usable energy, in normal and mutant flies.
A neuroscience major, Wolfson is dissecting the flies, staining them with a fluorescent dye called a mitotracker, and observing the results under a confocal microscope, which creates three-dimensional images on a computer screen. With plans to conduct advanced research in the future, she says the project is helping familiarize her with the laboratory.
According to Reynolds, the research seeks solid evidence that a shortage of mitochondria results in seizures by depriving the flies’ brains of the energy needed to filter too much stimulation.
“You have to keep the brain’s firing under control,” says Reynolds, who adds that Wolfson, one of the few sophomores to work with her, is diligent and a good problem solver. “I was really impressed by her abilities in the classroom, and she is determined to do research.”
Reynolds notes that Wolfson is gaining experience with the confocal microscope and is also using sophisticated mitochondria dyes and immunohistochemistry techniques.
Wolfson calls Reynolds a wonderful mentor and explains that she is flexible and extremely knowledgeable in her field.
“I find Lafayette to be a good environment for projects like mine because the mentors are really here to help students,” she says. “There is no possible way that I would be doing this research at a larger university as an undergraduate student.”
A member of Pi Beta Phi sorority, Wolfson is a waitress and enjoys skiing in her spare time.