Lauren Stae ’23 published as first author in academic journal

Lauren Stae ’23 was listed as the first author of her senior seminar research on zebrafish embryos, which was published in the peer-reviewed academic journal BIOS.

Stae collaborated with Associate Professor of Biology Barbara Sisson in investigating the effects of white LED light exposure on wild-type zebrafish embryos in the article “A pilot study on the time-specific effects of light exposure from a light emitting diode (LED) on cardiovascular development in Danio rerio.”

In the study, embryos were exposed to light for three days under varying conditions: 1. no light exposure (the control group); 2. 12 hours of light followed by 12 hours of darkness; and 3. continuous 72-hour light exposure.

“The hypothesis was that increased light exposure would correlate with increased severity of pericardial edema, characterized by fluid accumulation around the heart and its chambers and blood pooling,” Stae said. “Results, categorized as mild, moderate and severe pericardial edema, supported this hypothesis.”

Sisson said Stae came up with the idea for this experiment and they worked together to design a study.

“Most of the research that occurs in my lab is focused on cartilage development so it was really exciting for me to help design experiments focused on the heart,” Sisson said.

Stae’s research began with a deep dive into existing research on the impact of LED light on zebrafish development, including studies on edema and mortality.

“This background research helped me refine my topic, considering the resources available on campus,” Stae said. “Collecting, sorting and analyzing zebrafish embryos was a unique, challenging, yet surprisingly enjoyable experience.”

Stae said the continuously illuminated group exhibited the highest incidence and severity of pericardial edema, followed by the 12-hour light and 12-hour dark group. She said these findings suggest that excessive LED light exposure can negatively impact zebrafish health, prompting further research into the effects of different light colors and wavelengths on zebrafish development.

Stae said her work getting published was a moment of immense pride.

“Knowing that this work could pave the way for future studies is incredibly rewarding, a feeling of having made a real contribution,” Stae said. “Publication is an achievement not everyone experiences, making it all the more meaningful.”

Sisson said one of the goals of the biology department is for students to learn how to communicate science.

“While they learn [how to communicate science] in every one of our courses, having the experience of writing a paper for publication puts these skills into practice and allows them to share their research with the scientific community,” Sisson said.

Stae presented her research at the 2023 Milwaukee-Area Undergraduate Biology Research Convention. She said the audience’s insightful questions pushed her desire to publish and explore the findings further.

At Ripon, Stae double majored in chemistry-biology and psychology and minored in Spanish. She currently works as a water treatment engineer for Solenis, a global chemical company. She works with various manufacturing and waste treatment plants, managing their influent, effluent and boiler water treatment.

“This role allows me to leverage my chemistry and biology degrees and the strong communication skills I developed at Ripon College,” Stae said. “During my job search, I sought a career utilizing my diverse academic background and passion for science while offering variety in my daily work. This position delivers on all fronts. I’m part of a fantastic team and am constantly learning – continuous learning is essential in this field.”