I am Simona Gavrilovici, a chemistry major in my third year here at Millersville University. I started my project on aptamer sensor development because I wanted to have a better understanding of the applications of biochemical material in real-world scenarios. In my project, I work with analytical and biochemical concepts from my major. The analytical chemistry work within my project is what I particularly enjoy working on. I get to analyze chemical solutions with Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy. My goals for this project are to create a hand-held sensor containing aptamers and fluorophore, and to have a better understanding of Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy. I am still waiting on a few vital materials for the development my aptasensor, but until then I am using the Raman spectrophotometer to analyze my target molecules. I intend to continue my project into my senior year, and to meet my goals. The skills that I am developing from this project will be beneficial in my future chemistry endeavors.