Fall 2023 Documentary Showcase Bray

A Day in the Lab is an attempt to capture a day in the life of a group of graduate students in the University’s anatomy department and laboratory. The project aims to follow them through an average day as they attempt to run experiments, teach classes, goof off and navigate the teachings of their mentor Dr. Loenneke and his philosophy of “unstructured structure”.

The inspiration for the project comes from my experiences as a research participant in their laboratory’s experiments over the last two years. Although I received no financial incentive for working with the lab, I discovered that the positive environment cultivated by the students and Dr. Loenneke was often its own reward. Likewise, the students come from a diverse set of backgrounds and cultures. In just my time in the lab I have worked with researchers from Japan, Korea, the U.K., Brazil and several U.S. states. Finally, despite the stress of learning and teaching, I believe that by working in close proximity for several hours the students have developed a strong support network that makes up for the exhaustion of grad school.

Walker is an aspiring historian of the U.S. South from Mobile, Alabama. Since he was young, he has been fascinated by storytelling whether through literature or his relatives’ tall tales. He is also fascinated by how these narratives inform our view of the past and present as well as how they change over time. Since finishing his bachelor’s degree, Walker has enjoyed writing, traveling and language learning and is currently pursuing a Souther Studies MA. In his free time he enjoys running on the campus trails, watching football with friends and exploring the library.