Molly Sterner is a senior at Millersville majoring in General Biology. She is pursuing her thesis project through the Developmental Biology lab of Dr. Judith Cebra-Thomas, and has been engaged in this project with the lab since the summer of 2018. Here, she has had the opportunity to investigate the gene regulation of specific undifferentiated cells in turtle embryos and how these cells give rise to the shell that protects and supports them. This research experience has given her the ability to explore embryology and molecular biology, as well as practice techniques that will aid in her success in future research settings.