During my undergraduate education at Washington State University, I volunteered in a skin research lab. During my two years there, I learned and taught lab techniques and protocols, as well as how to prepare, section, and analyze tissue samples. For my Honors Thesis, I researched the structure and development of spiny dogfish shark skin and fins. Then, I compared shark tissue to samples from rainbow trout. It was an intensive process, involving sample collection, tissue stain testing and optimization, and extensive imaging and analysis. After six months, I presented my results at WSU’s annual research conference, SURCA. I documented differences in scale distribution, skin thickness, and discovered when certain structures appear in embryonic shark skin. My research was awarded a Pass with Distinction for its graduate-level creativity and thoroughness.