Kate Fehlhaber

Follow Me For A Week

Monday
Morning
When I get to lab, I return emails and put together my plan for the week.
Afternoon
I continue analyzing data that I collected the previous week.
Evening
I am editor-in-chief of Knowing Neurons, a neuroscience education website. Our team meets weekly via Google Hangout to discuss the upcoming posts and new submissions.
Tuesday
Morning

As a core member of the UCLA Business of Science Center (BSC), I help plan and coordinate events throughout the year. Right now, the AWiSE group (Advancing Women in Science and Engineering) is discussing what events to host throughout the year, particularly in the Fall quarter.

Afternoon
I attend the weekly BSC meeting, which is open to anyone interested in learning about how business and science intersect. The topics of these meetings are quite diverse, including interview skills, resume writing, entrepreneurship, and patent law. Today we are hearing from a UCLA professor, who invented a new biomedical device that will be the focus of a venture team. The goal of the venture team is to decide if the device is ready for market. When I get back to lab, I make solutions and set up for tomorrow’s experiment.
Evening

I go to a yoga class in Westwood, and before I go home, I stop at a farmer’s market in my neighborhood to get fresh fruits and vegetables.

Wednesday
Morning
Today is experiment day! I’m in the Sampath lab, and we study early visual processing in the retina. Because we are interested in measuring responses from different neurons in the retina when the retina has not yet been exposed to light, the preparations for my experiments are done in complete darkness. I get to wear infrared goggles so I can navigate and make retinal slices.
Afternoon
I record light-evoked responses from rods and bipolar cells in the retina using electrophysiological techniques.
Evening
I meet a friend for drinks at a local bar.
Thursday
Morning
I analyze the data I collected yesterday and decide how to proceed with future experiments.
Afternoon
I meet some friends and classmates to go swimming at one of UCLA’s outdoor pools. It’s nice to break up the day with some swimming! When I get back to lab, I make solutions and set up for tomorrow’s experiment.
Evening

Summers are my favorite time of year in Los Angeles. There are so many free concerts and events! Tonight, I’m going to a concert on the Santa Monica pier with a group of friends.

Friday
Morning
Today is another experiment day! I continue to record light-evoked responses in different neurons in the retina.
Afternoon
I attend the Jules Stein Eye Institute’s noon seminar and distinguished lecture series. Then I go back to lab to continue my experiment.
Evening

Almost every week, there is a movie premier in Westwood. Tonight, my friend had an extra ticket, so I got to walk the red carpet with the stars! It was so much fun seeing celebrities so close, and I even got to snap some photos with a few of them!

Saturday
Morning
I go for a bike ride along a bike path from Culver City, where I live, to Marina del Rey, where the Ballona Creek bike path meets up with the Santa Monica bike path that runs right along the beach.
Afternoon
I edit article submissions for Knowing Neurons, create images to accompany upcoming articles, or write my own piece for the site.
Evening
I meet friends for dinner and a game night.
Sunday
Morning
Some weekends I do an experiment, but this weekend I meet a friend for yoga, and afterwards we go for brunch. We always try a new place, so we can explore different neighborhoods.
Afternoon

Today is the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena, so I head over there with some friends to see what gems we can find.

Evening
I analyze data I collected last week and send an update to my PI. I read new publications in my field and other fun neuroscience discoveries that I find interesting.