Summary

On September 25th, 2020 I attended a meeting at 2:00pm held via Google Meet video conference.
The meeting was hosted by Tribeta and AEQF presidents (Kevin Cruz Colón and Jeremy Rodríguez
Vargas) with the participation of the professor Sonia Bailón, and lasted approximately 1 hour and 30
minutes. In the meeting, three students presented their investigation projects (two were mentored by said
professor) using a power point presentation and with a time restraint of 30 minutes. Through the
document you will get to see the highlights of each presentation.

Presentations
Protocol to functionalize cadmium selenide quantum dots
This presentation was given by the student Julio Rivera De Jesús. With the investigation, he
wanted to see if by synthetizing the quantum dots he could reduce their toxicity, he also wanted to
functionalize quantum dots that had been grown in an acidic medium. To the synthesis he used a
microwave oven and to actually functionalize them he first used a buffer solution to keep them in there
for about 24 hours and then did the same thing with glutathione. He could functionalize them and they
also kept the same level of toxicity.

Cholinergic Input to Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Neurons of the Inferior Colliculus

This second presentation was given by the student, and president of the Tribeta association, Kevin
Cruz Colón. His investigation was trying to prove that the VIP neurons of the inferior colliculus (a brain
structure associated with the speaking and hearing process) received direct signalization by cholinergic
neurons. To prove this, he tracked the proteins in synaptic vesicles and, using a genetically modified rat
modified to mark the proteins of its VIP neurons, they could prove that, in fact, the VIP neurons receive
signalization directly from the cholinergic neurons.

Potential Bactericidal Activity of Silver Nanoparticles

The final presentation was given by the student David Medina Suárez. With this investigation he
wanted to see if the silver nanoparticles could create enough toxicity to kill the bacteria that is extremely
resistant to antibiotics. They synthesized their particles by heating a water and silver nitrate solution and
adding sodium nitrate until the mixture gradually changed colors and formed the particles. Then they
proceeded to characterize the particles by performing various tests on them to make sure that they were
indeed silver particles. He did prove that these silver particles carried enough toxicity to kill these
bacteria.

Conclusion:
To conclude, attending this conference helped me to get motivation to start doing
investigation projects. They mentioned something of my particular interest (since I’m planning
of going to medical school) and that is the fact that now the admission tests require more critical
analysis and by participating in research projects you can get the ability of critical thinking. I am
also interested in acquiring experiences that can help me grow professionally.