Dan Bear passed his PQE. Ally Nowlan, a recent UMass Amherst grad who did a thesis exploring the function of the technotrousers gene in zebrafish spinal neurons,  joined the lab as our new technician (filling the shoes of Allison, who recently got promoted to lab manager).  How, you ask, could we possibly celebrate these epic events in the wet and overly-sugared month of October? With a trip to the Fear at Fenway, a new local outpost for Spookyworld! While not nearly as amygdala-tickling as last year’s trip to the actual Spookyworld, it did have one amazing surprise in the middle – as you exited the second haunted house through a claustrophobia-inducing tunnel, you were ejected onto the playing field at Fenway, a truly spectacular experience.

Dan, celebrating his good fortune, and Ally, wondering whether her experience in the Datta lab is going to be equally Spooky.

The lab, on the actual track behind center field in Fenway!