This week we continue our My First Paper campaign with Devon Crouch a 3rd-year PhD student in the Department of Eye and Vision Science, who tells us all about his first research paper.
What was the title of your first paper and who was it submitted to?
My paper was “An Optimized Method to Decellularize Human Trabecular Meshwork” and it was published in the MDPI Bioengineering Journal.
How would you explain what this paper was about to your grandparents?
If I were to tell my grandparents about this paper I would explain that this research looked into removing all of the excess clutter and DNA material from a small tissue within the eye, known as the Trabecular Meshwork, to permit 3D visualisation of the structure without any obstructions.
What was the most significant thing for you about that paper?
The most significant thing for me about this paper is the high resolution 3D images that I was able to obtain of the small tissue situated in the eye. This tissue has never been captured in 3D to this precision before.
What advice would you give to others about submitting their first paper?
My advice would be to enjoy the process and take it as a learning curve as everyone’s first paper will always have many drafts and changes to make it the best that it can be and something to be proud of.
You can find Devon's first paper here.