Lab Life

There's been a murder at Chilkoti high! Who killed Bobby Baseball (Rachael)? Was is Alan Algebra (Dan)? Kevin Catcher (Yulia)? Sally Spirit (Kat)? Cindy Spectacular (Aine)? What was meant to be a fun-filled last hurrah for our seniors being recruited for baseball at State College turned into a murder mystery of totally tubular proportions. Thank you to Rachael and Kat for organizing this totally rad party!

Lab members on the stairs as part of a murder mystery party
A typical starts prom photo at Chilkoti High School, before we discovered a murder had occured! 
Coach walters
Our very enthusiastic Coach Walters, head coach of the baseball team, and a suspect who is potentially involved in bribery? 

 

Lab members react to the death of the victim in our lab murder mystery party
Our shocked seniors reacting to the death of Bobby Baseball (Rachael). Peter Perfect (Afi), focused on his mission of becoming Prom King, is nonplussed - his main competition is dead. 
Lab members with their prizes at our murder mystery party
The whole squad, back in the 80s. Congratulations to Aine (Cindy Spectacular) for best performance and best acting, Rachael (Bobby Baseball) for best dressed, and Dan (Alan Algebra) for coming away with the most bribe money at the end of the night.

The whole lab and associated +1s (and +2s and +3s including the children (no, we don't mean the graduate students)) came together for a rousing game of White Elephant. Highlights included a section of Steve Jobs' sweater, the book "Goodnight, Lab", tree ornaments picked out by Nika (age: 3), and some plants! Happy Holidays, Chilkoti Lab!

Lab at our white elephant party December 2024

Emilie, Aine, Erica, and Kalina planned an amazing lab retreat out in the mountains of Western NC! The lab played an amazing game of fishbowl, had some extra fun jello, relaxed in a hot tub, and hiked around. Max and Dan played their traditional 3 AM game of Settlers of Catan, Dr. Sonal crushed some peasants (graduate students) in pool, and Aine had an easy time picking out which of the 100000 hikes in the area we should attempt. 

Kat and yoyo confirming they do in fact enjoy the view
Kat and yoyo confirming they do in fact enjoy the view
The aforementioned view at Linville Falls
The aforementioned view at Linville Falls
Aine, Emilie, Yoyo, and Kalina at the overlook overlooking the falls
Aine, Emilie, Yoyo, and Kalina at the overlook overlooking the falls
Max explaining rheology to Dan; Dan hanging his head in defeat
Max explaining rheology to Dan; Dan hanging his head in defeat
Cookmasters Kalina and Aine
Cookmasters Kalina and Aine
Grillmeister Dan
Grillmeister Dan

The Chilkoti lab cleaned up at our department retreat at Wrightsville beach on the North Carolina coast. Congratulations to Kat on being awarded the NSF Graduate Research Fellowships Program award, Erica and Emilie for winning 2nd place in the retreat rapid fire talks competition for their rap battle, and Dan for winning 2nd best poster at the poster session! We had a great time at the beach doing yoga, playing volleyball, and learning about all the incredible science happening in our department.

Kat receives the NSF GRFP!
Kat receives the NSF GRFP!
Erica and Emilie win 2nd place for their rap battle!
Erica and Emilie win 2nd place for their rap battle!
Dan wins 2nd place for his poster!
Dan wins 2nd place for his poster!
Kat links the the Chilkoti and Collier labs!
Kat links the the Chilkoti and Collier labs!
Attempt the "find everyone in the lab in the department photo" challenge (IMPOSSIBLE)
Attempt the "find everyone in the lab in the department photo" challenge (IMPOSSIBLE)

Congrats to Parul on her marriage to Tristan! The wedding was in India, giving lab members the opportunity to take a few weeks off for the adventure of a lifetime, guilt-free ("don't worry about your experiments, enjoy India!" - Tosh, in an email to the India crew). We got the chance to to visit Parul's village outside of Delhi, and Dr. Sonal organized an unbelievable trip around Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur. Greatest hits included: monkeys, Sikh temples, Hindu temples, Jain temples, Zach's newfound love for Laal Maas, crowded tuktuk rides, udaipur rooftop meals, and the invaluable chance to experience a new and different culture.

Everyone at the wedding
Congratulations Parul!
Group at Paruls house
Colors and Kurtas
Zach Dan Dancing
Making friends (with the wedding photographer)
Everyone at the TajMahal
A beautiful misty sunrise at the Taj Mahal
Everyone in Jaipur
Who needs the "Japiur" instagram filter when in Japiur?

Our lab would be nothing without the illustrious, industrious, conscientious, sedulous, diligent, amazing, incomparable, fantastic, and all-time favorite lab manager, Krissey! Dr. Dan Joh and the lab surprised Krissey with cupcakes for her birthday during Rachel's group meeting. Happy Birthday, Krissey!

Lab surprising Krissey for her birthday

Josh and his wife Amber hosted an incredible white elephant holiday party for the lab. The gift exchange included multiple plants, a shockingly pleasant island-themed calendar, childhood toys, and even an appearance by Tosh! Happy Holidays, everyone!

The lab at a holiday party with Tosh's face in the background

The lab fell in love with Fall! Kat and Rachael organized an excursion to a local pumpkin patch for some wonderful pumpkin spice lab bonding. We talked intrinsically disordered proteins on a tractor ride, drug delivery on a cow ride, compared our pumpkins, and got lost in a corn maze. 10/10 would Fall again!

Blinded by the light
Blinded by the light
Showing off our pumpkins
Showing off our pumpkins
Enjoying what was sold as a "cow ride"
Enjoying what was sold as a "cow ride"
Enjoying an actual tractor ride
Enjoying an actual tractor ride