Invasive species are known to have adverse effects on the ecological balance within an environment due to their ability to outcompete native species. During my sophomore year I joined a study as a research assistant in Aspiring Scholars Directive Research Project (ASDRP) that was investigating how the invasive mudsnail, Ilyanassa obsoleta, affects the mudflats ecosystem. I experienced every part of the research process, from planning our methods, to collecting specimens in the field, to sample processing, to data analysis, and finally, to writing and submitting the paper for publication, Investigating the ecological impacts of invasive mud snail species, ilyanassa obsoleta, on native San Francisco Bay mudflat inhabitants. (abstract available here)