Throughout my academic career, I have been extremely fortunate to have as mentors, teachers, and advisors, remarkable individuals who helped me develop into a competent researcher and passionate teacher. This essay describes a period in my career as a graduate student that was challenging, but also rewarding. I was fortunate to have contact with world-class researchers and teachers, including Drs. Clyde Herried, Leon Fahri, Hermann Rahn, Donald Riggs, Verner Noell, and Barbara Howell. In addition, I attended excellent University of Buffalo Department of Physiology seminars presented by world-renown scientists. Looking back on the experience, allows me to appreciate the large impact they made on my subsequent career in education and research in physiology and neurobiology.
Keywords: CO2; behavior; mentors; metabolism; mice.