Lydia Fredrick ’23 featured as first author for research publication

Lydia Fredrick ’23 had her senior seminar research on female rats published in the peer-reviewed academic journal BIOS, marking her first time as the primary contributor to a study.

Fredrick collaborated with Associate Professor of Biology Robin Forbes-Lorman on the article titled “Trial and error: The effect of omega-3 fatty acids and ovarian hormones on anxiety in female rats.”

“In addition to helping out with other projects in my lab, Lydia designed and carried out a study investigating the effects of omega fatty acids and circulating estrogens in female rodents,” Forbes-Lorman said. “Lydia became an expert surgeon, a great researcher and an excellent science communicator.”

In the research’s abstract, Fredrick said that anxiety disorders are more prevalent in females than males, in part due to the change in ovarian hormones during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

“We wanted to investigate if omega-3 fatty acids, most commonly found in fish oil, could help offset these anxiety symptoms females experience,” Fredrick said.

Fredrick said she chose to do this research for two reasons.

“There is a lack of research on female anxiety disorders in relation to their menstrual cycle, and I wanted to change that,” Fredrick said. “This research also allowed me to do ovariectomies on female rats, which was exciting to me as I had a large interest in surgery at the time.”

The study results concluded that further research into the potential interaction of omega-3 fatty acids and estradiol and progesterone, ovarian hormones, is needed.

“I am incredibly proud and grateful that this research has been published, and excited for where it may lead future research on anxiety,” Fredrick said.

Forbes-Lorman said it’s a big deal for undergraduates to have first author publications in peer-reviewed journals.

“One of my favorite things about working at a small undergraduate school is providing undergraduates with the opportunity to design and carry out meaningful and publishable research,” Forbes-Lorman said. “All of our students get the opportunity to do this, but only some take the initiative to publish in a peer-reviewed journal. The students that do gain invaluable experience in science communication.”

At Ripon, Fredrick majored in chemistry-biology and minored in psychology and business management. While she applies to medical school, she works as an EMT at Ripon Guardian Ambulance and as a technician at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in the Emergency Department and Trauma Center. She additionally dances professionally for the Trinity Irish Dance Company and has been touring with them since 2018.