Kaitlin Walsh, Summer Intern

Kaitlin recently completed a summer internship at TRI Princeton. She is pursuing her Bachelor of Science at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Clinical Laboratory Science student. While not at TRI, Kaitlin lifeguarded on Sandy Hook, NJ.

During her summer in Princeton, she worked alongside Samuel Gourion-Arsiquaud and Surbhi Mittal to study the effects of UV exposure on the lipid organization inside the stratum corneum and on the level of natural moisturizing factors (NMF). Using ATR-FTIR imaging spectroscopy, they recorded images and spectra of stratum corneum samples to determine how the structure of this external portion of the skin was altered over a ten-week exposure period. In addition, the team used UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy to follow the modifications underwent by the skin after every two weeks of exposure. The measurements were performed in-vivo on inner forearm.

The effect of UV radiation on the skin is an extensively studied topic. As greenhouse gas emission continues to deplete the ozone layer, ultraviolet damage to human skin has become an increasingly more prevalent issue, especially with regard to melanoma and other skin cancers. The summer research of Kaitlin, Surbhi, and Samuel has the potential to add to our understanding of the damaging effects that prolonged periods of sun exposure has on our skin. We thank Kaitlin for her hard work this summer, and we wish her all the best as she continues her education.

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