07/15/24 – A Graceful Return (w/ Topspin)
My day didn’t start with Kody but with Carlos, the Stem Cell King himself.
After catching up on his Germany trip and my work last week, I jumped to ask about his HiBit reporter cell line and sensory neuron differentiation protocol project. Soon after, Kody and I discussed his finalized project on creating a hypothalamic neuron model to prevent Alzheimer’s disease pathology—a direction that excited both of us. When David arrived, he came bearing chocolatey gifts and a wealth of conference insights. He outlined our next steps without missing a beat: ICC for poster images, Western Blot to quantify protein regulation, and more stem cell culture prep for MEAs and patch clamp EEG. Though I was initially nervous about the cells, David’s confidence was reassuring, and his praise for the semi-lifted plates lifted my spirits. Reflecting on our conversation, I realized I needed to maximize these next few weeks under his mentorship, especially with Poster Day fast approaching.
David’s brief absence from our workflow led to an interesting exchange with Pinar and the introduction of a new in-house proteomic analysis technology that could drastically cut analysis time. This interaction clarified David’s constant exploration of new ideas, a trait I admire and aspire to emulate. After a rushed lunch at Panera, I joined our Introduction to Translational Sciences class, where I worked with Dr. Malik. Her sharp intellect reinforced my belief that pursuing a PhD is crucial for leading impactful research. The gap between her and us undergraduates was clear, and our discussion on team science convinced me further that the upcoming NIH graduate and professional school fair is the perfect opportunity to explore my top choices.
07/16/24 – It’s What’s Inside That Matters
I’ve completely abandoned my worries about appearances, focusing instead on truly understanding and engaging in conversations. My morning started with a bit of chaos—another air conditioning failure in the lab made me wonder if my five-hour commute would be for nothing. Thankfully, I caught up with Vukasin, Kody, and Carlos, and got to work on what David had asked. The lab was quiet until about 10, with David and I barely exchanging words. There was noticeable tension as he reviewed my progress with database mining, pushing me to refine my work further. Determined to improve, I sent out emails and dug deep into supplemental papers, focusing on relevant proteomics and gene analysis.
During lunch, I drove with David, and our conversation flowed more easily than it had all morning: we discussed his family, work-life balance, and even EVs up to David’s hole-in-the-wall Hispanic restaurant. I ordered an asada plate, which sparked interest among everyone who’d chosen neater meals. Back in the lab, I set up my workspace near David as he plated cells with his usual precision. We chatted about various collaborations the SCTL is involved in, and as I continued refining my data categorization, David noticed that one of the papers I found was crucial for our work. The paper from the University of Oxford’s Pain RNA-Seq Hub turned out to be invaluable, leading to a potential collaboration. This discovery helped me grasp the importance of asking questions that get to the heart of our project’s purpose, making me feel more confident in taking ownership of my contributions.
07/17/24 – Professional (Development) Fair Day
Today was a whirlwind of information and connections, capped off with a successful group photo of all the NCATS interns. My day began later than usual, at 7 am, allowing me to say goodbye to my mom before navigating the NIH campus for parking. After a 20-minute walk to Building 45, I joined Mauris and other interns at the fair. I focused my attention on MD/PhD programs and PhD collaborations, starting with Case Western’s MSTP. Dr. Huang emphasized the importance of personal struggle and independent projects over publications, a lesson I shared with Mauris and his NINDS post-bacc roommates.
As I made my way through the fair, I connected with various programs, including Harvard’s MD/PhD and Wake Forest’s WFIRM. At Wake Forest, I secured contact information to explore stem cell research opportunities in North Carolina. A chance encounter with Dr. Mohanish Deshmukh at the UNC table left a strong impression, especially as we discussed his son Rishi and the impressive accomplishments of Nehemiah Stewart. Our conversation deepened my understanding of what it takes to excel in research and reinforced my commitment to pursuing a PhD. The day ended with a valuable debrief at NCATS, where I reflected on the insights gained and followed up with contacts from the fair, feeling more confident and focused on the path ahead.
07/18/24 – Reality Can Be However You’d Like
Oversleeping for the first time, I found myself leaning heavily on the Lord for strength as I navigated traffic in silence, keeping my mind sharp for the day ahead.
I arrived at the lab around 9 am, just in time for my coding class, which I hadn’t prepared for. During the class, I wrestled with some coding issues, managing to resolve them by focusing on small details. David, back from his meeting with Carlos, discussed our upcoming plans, including ICC and Western blotting. Though our work has been delayed due to his busy schedule, he reassured me that next week would be dedicated to our project. We reviewed the experimental setup: two 6-well plates with various conditions, aiming to refine our understanding of pain mechanisms in sensory neurons.
After a productive meeting with Dr. Meena Rajagopal, where I gained insights into future funding opportunities, I returned to the lab with a clearer vision of my research trajectory. Despite his overwhelming schedule, David encouraged my ambitions, pointing out the importance of looking ahead and planning for a successful research career. We discussed the fractionation process for tomorrow’s experiments, and I left feeling more certain about my path in the stem cell and regenerative medicine field. The day’s challenges reminded me that ambition, while daunting, is essential in taking meaningful steps toward making a global impact.
07/19/24 – Progress Is Being Made
Realizing the heights my mentor has achieved—from a fulfilling family life to groundbreaking research and elite collaborations—has been inspiring and daunting. As an undergraduate, I strive to follow his path, focusing on early morning tasks as Carlos did.
Today, David and I focused on a western blot and a BCA protein assay. Despite his repeated apologies for the delays, he dedicated the morning to preparing lysates and performing calculations to ease my learning process. I saw that while David’s kindness is meant to simplify my experience, it’s crucial for me to engage actively with the experiments. I worked on the BCA wavelength calculations in Excel and stayed involved throughout the process, except when David needed undisturbed focus. I realized that merely following along wouldn’t help me grasp the experiments fully.
During lunch, my emails with Susan Pusek, Prabhir Roy-Chaudhury, and Jill Powell revealed valuable opportunities. The program links me with researchers at top institutions, including Wake Forest’s renowned bioprinting lab, aligning with my interest in kidney organoids. David also mentioned his ongoing NIH project, hinting that my work with SCTL might continue. Our discussions about the challenges of being a PI—balancing research with administrative duties—highlighted David’s dedication and enthusiasm despite the obstacles. Reflecting on a recent conversation with my uncles about faith, I reaffirmed my trust in God’s guidance. I felt a deep sense of fulfillment as I left the lab, energized by the innovative possibilities ahead.