"What Do You Want To be When You Grow Up?"

As you mature and experience new things, your goals for the future often change. Looking back, I have changed my mind a number of times about my career plans for the future. Yet, many of my choices related to science in some way.

This is probably due to some of my early childhood memories with my Grandpa McCarthy. He taught my brother and me about astronomy with his telescope, watched the original Star Wars with us thousands of times let us mess around with his radio, and took us on trips to the Air Force Museum. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the time we spent together helped spark my interest in science.

 

Here are my previous and current science-related career goals:

Preschool

I loved Snow White (which I also watched with my Grandpa many times). At that time, I wanted to be the Wicked Queen when I grew up. Even though she was the villain, I thought she was cool. She had a “lab” where her “chemistry experiments” resulted in magic potions.

Kindergarten

I remember dressing up as a medical doctor for a “what do you want to be when you grow up?” day in kindergarten, since I liked helping my “sick” baby dolls and stuffed animals with my toy medical kit.

Y2K

When I was 11 years old, I saw Coyote Ugly with my friend Casey. We decided we were going to start our own bar like in the movie. Bartenders often use scientific techniques to make creative cocktails and mixology uses physics and chemistry to understand the properties and interactions of different drink ingredients. Read more about this in "Physics in the Mix: Bartending Gets Scientific."

Jr. High

At this time, I enjoyed math and science. I liked learning about algebra, learning about marine biology in the Bahamas, and studying wildlife on camping trips. I also liked working in groups and helping tutor other students. Thus, I decided that I wanted to be a math or science teacher.

High School

With my interests in math, science, and helping others, I started to consider healthcare professions. After job shadowing an optometrist, I considered going to optometry school. It was interesting to learn about the different things involved in this field, from vision testing, caring for patients with eye diseases, examining the eye using special cameras, and more In this profession, I could use biology and physics to help people with vision problems.  

College

Although I started college with a goal of getting into a post-graduate optometry program, I changed my mind after working in a biochemistry laboratory. I realized that I liked doing research and experiments, and my favorite courses were biochemistry, molecular biology, and organic chemistry. With encouragement from my mentors, I applied to graduate programs in biomedical research to pursue a career as a scientist.

Graduate School

While I was doing my thesis research, I realized that I didn’t want to become a principal investigator and run my own lab. I found what I enjoyed the most was writing about my work and creating scientific presentations. Additionally, I took a course called “Careers in Science Communication,” and realized that this field integrated my interest in scientific knowledge and passion for writing. As I finished up my graduate work, I decided to pursue a career as a science writer.

Current Position as a Science Writing Fellow

I am continuing to work towards my goal of becoming a science writer by gaining experience in science communication. I love the work that I am doing as a fellow, such as writing blogs, drafting tweets, interviewing scientists, and more. If you want to learn more about my fellowship program, go the National Cancer Institute Health Communications Internship Program (HCIP) Website. 

My Lab Song Playlist

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.” - Albert Einstein

Similar to Einstein, many scientists have a passion for music. Many researchers play musical instruments, including Dr. Francis Collins (the director of the NIH plays guitar), Dr. Mark Ptashned (a molecular biologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering) plays the violin, Dr. Rudy Tanzi (a neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School) plays keyboards, Dr. Brian May (an astrophysicist with NASA's New Horizons Pluto mission) is the guitarist for Queen, and many more.

In addition to generating music, researchers often appreciate music, which can inspire creative ideas or help them focus on their work.

Thinking about the connections between science and music, I decided to put together a lab song playlist.

Toxic - Brittany Spears

I spent 6 years studying toxicology, so I have to start this list with a song about a toxic “substance.”

Help! – The Beatles

Science is all about collaboration and working together. In this field, you have to be willing to ask for help and feedback.

Happy – Pharrell Williams

This song is for the good times in the lab and the joy of science.

Don’t Stop Believing – Journey

As many scientists know, experiments don’t always work and there can be setbacks during the research process. You just have to remind yourself to be persistent and keep believing in your work.  

I Got You – Bebe Rexha

I picture mentors singing the chorus to their mentees.

Disco Inferno – The Trammps                                                                                           

For my thesis work, I investigated the biological effects of biomass smoke from the “burning” of solid fuels. This song reminds me of the time I spent optimizing an experimental smoke generation system. I even used it in a student seminar presentation.

Circle of Life – Carmen Twillie and Lebo M. (written by Elton John)

This song is fitting for biology and the laboratory ecosystem.

Confident – Demi Lovato

Scientists show confidence when presenting their research.

Rather Be – Clean Bandit featuring Jess Glynne

Scientists say, “There’s no place I’d rather be - than researching and learning new things."

Call On Me – Eric Prydz

My labmates in graduate school knew that they could call on me for help with their projects

Crazy Youngsters - Ester Dean

I think most trainees share these feelings: “'Cause we got, hey, we got a lot of things to do;  Hey, we got a lot of things to prove; (Yeah we got) yeah we got a lot of room to grow; (Hey) yeah we got a lot of miles to go.”

Good Feeling- Flo Rida

Sometimes, as a scientist, you have a “good feeling” about an experiment or research idea.

Blood, Sweat, and Tears – Magical Thinker featuring Dezi Paige                          

Science and research involves a lot of hard work.

Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson

The lyrics can be related to pushing through hard times during the research process and biological phenomena (like selection and drug resistance).

Sorry – Justin Bieber

Everybody makes mistakes in the lab. You have to say “sorry,” learn from the experience, and move forward.

Try Everything – Shakira

This song is about perseverance and reproducibility.

Immortals – Fall Out Boy

I think as scientists, the work that we do is “immortal” and leads to future studies and discoveries. This is also the theme song for Big Hero 6, a Disney movie with scientific research, graduate students, and robots.

Do You Remember – Jay Sean featuring Sean Paul and Lil Jon

This song makes me reflect back on my graduate school experiences and lab work. 

Final Countdown – Europe

This song is perfect for the “final countdown” of an important experiment.

(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life – Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes

This song sums up my feelings after my thesis defense, when I was looking back on my graduate school experience. 

Additional Information about Science and Music 

For other science related music playlists, check out these articles by Elsevier: “20 science songs to beat the lab playlist blues” and “20 more science songs for your lab playlist.” There is also web content about musicians and scientists at easternblot.net.

#gradschoollife

I thought I would share some of my #gradschool experiences. 

Starting my PhD program with excitement and energy.

Tired after years of hard work on my thesis research. 

Studying for graduate level classes.

Presenting at a typical lab meeting.

Preparing for the qualifying exam.

When I hadn't started writing a paper, and my adviser (a.k.a. PI) asked, "Where's the paper at?"

Performing and optimizing lots and lots of experiments in #gradschool.

When my paper was rejected.

When a reviewer said, "The data in figure X is very valuable and well-presented."

When my PI asked me to do something ASAP at the last minute, in other words #SorryNotSorry.

Writing my thesis and preparing for my defense. 

  

Celebrating after successfully defending my PhD.

There were a lot of ups and downs in #gradschool, but it was all worth it (#NoRegrets).

Helping Scientists by Playing Video Games

Growing up with Video Games

Like many people, I grew up playing video games. I can remember when my twin brother and I were ~5 years old and got our first gaming console, which was a Sega Genesis. It came with the “The Lion King,” where we had to jump Simba safely across the Savannah by jumping from giraffe to giraffe. As we got older, we moved to the Sega Saturn, PlayStation I, II, III, etc. One of my favorite games was TimeSplitters 2, when four of us would face off in the multiplayer mode of virtual hide-and-seek. Video games are a fun pastime for people with many different interests.

 Now, scientists are using video games to harness human intelligence to address important scientific research questions.

FoldIt

This online puzzle game was developed by the Center for Game Science at the University of Washington. It involves competition between players trying to work out the 3-D structures of proteins by folding chains of virtual amino acids into optimal configurations. The greater the stability of the protein as zigzags, squiggles, and loops of amino acids are folded into an optimal shape (with the lowest energy), the higher the score. FoldIt also allows players to design new proteins that could have potential therapeutic effects, such as inhibiting influenza virus.

Additionally, FoldIt players can outperform computer simulations to find the lowest energy structures of a protein. They solved a research question that scientists had been studying for decades by determining the structure of a retroviralprotease of the Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (which causes similar symptoms as HIV in humans). Also, FoldIt players redesigned anenzyme to increase the speed of a reaction and increase the production of drugs by ~2,000%.

EteRNA

This game was created by scientists at Carnegie Mellon University and Stanford University. Players arrange colored discs, which represent nucleotides that form RNA molecules, into 2-D chain-link shapes. The best designs, voted for by the eteRNA community, are then generated in the lab and their behavior is observed. The scientists give this information to the players of the game to help them develop new game strategies. This continuous cycle helps researchers understand RNA folding and activity, which can be used to develop new RA molecules to treat diseases. 

Phylo

This puzzle game was created by scientists at McGill University. The goal of the game is to improve genomic sequence alignments of disease-associated genes from multiple species. Players move DNA sequences, illustrated as rows of color-coded blocks, to find the best possible match. Further, 70% of around 350,000 multiple sequence alignment solutions generated by Phylo players are more accurate than a computer algorithm.

The Cure

This card game was created at the Scripps Research Institute to help find predictive biomarkers of breast cancer. Players put together 5 genes from a board of 25 pre-selected genes (based on cancer-relevance). To win, an individual’s gene set produces the best predictive model of breast cancer outcomes.   

EyeWire

This game comes from a lab at Princeton University and uses data from the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research. It challenges players to map retinal neurons by solving puzzles and reconstructing 3D structures of neurons, which helps researchers understand information processing circuits in the brain.  

 Biotic Games

A scientist at Stanford University developed various educational, “biotic games” that help people understand living organisms. In PAC-mecium, players herd a flock of paramecia (single-celled organisms found in ponds), which is represented by a fish. Further, they can see how these organisms swim and change direction in response to electrical stimulation, observe the “fish” eating virtual food pellets, and maneuver it away from predators like zebrafish.

References

"Games for Science" in The Scientist

"Serious Games and Biomedical Research: What Do Game Developers Bring to the Table?" in Biomedical Computation Review

#Mentors

As I started the new year, I reflected back on mentors who have helped me on my career journey. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their support and guidance.

Mrs. Moore

I can still remember one of my first lessons as a 1^st grader in Mrs. Moore’s class at Carson Montessori. She told the scientific story of the formation of the universe. The lights were off and she started quietly. Then, there was the loud pop of a balloon and stars (a.k.a. glitter) scattering across the universe. I didn’t realize it at the time, but she was teaching us the value of communicating science through storytelling. 

Brandt Smith and Ms. Marquard

In Jr. High at Clark Montessori, I learned about the relationship between science and the world from my teachers, Brandt and Ms. Marquard. We went camping for a week each year, where we discussed the ecosystem of the forest. Similarly, in 8^th grade, everyone went to Andros Island in the Bahamas. We studied marine biology by snorkeling around beautiful coral reefs, bright fish, sharks, and more. Experiencing science in the world around me made a strong impact on my life.

Sally Lamping

I was lucky to have Sally as my freshman and sophomore English teacher in high school. She was so supportive of her students and encouraged our creativity. I remember being in her class and acting out Shakespeare scenes that we re-worked into a hip hop setting, having a mock trial with the characters from The Great Gatsby, and writing poems inspired by artists of the Harlem Renaissance. She helped me become a better writer, and helped me understand the power of the written word.   

Doc Brock

My high school chemistry teacher at Clark Montessori, Doc Brock, was an amazing mentor. He was passionate about the subject and made chemistry exciting. I chose to study science in college because of his class. He fostered my interest in chemistry. In fact, the school didn’t offer AP chemistry, so Doc Brock formed a club where he was willing to teach it after school. He really started me on a scientific career path.

Dr. Jody Modarelli

My academic advisor and undergraduate research mentor at Hiram College, Jody, had a profound impact on my life. She gave me the opportunity to start doing laboratory research in biochemistry as a freshman. I could always go to her for support and guidance, and she encouraged me to consider applying to graduate school for science. She was very smart, yet down-to-earth. Jody always listened to her student’s ideas and encouraged us to test our hypotheses. She was my role model and I wanted to be just like her. I really miss her since she passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2013, but I know her spirit lives on in all of the lives she touched.

Dr. Carol Shreiner

My organic chemistry professor, Carol, was a great teacher and mentor. I know most people groan when they hear the word, “O-chem,” but Carol made it interesting. It seemed more like art when she was drawing structures on the board. She was supportive of her students (including me) and always willing to help them understand chemistry concepts. Also, she was passionate about chemistry and shared her love of science with the campus. I was a member of the chemistry club, which she advised. Carol encouraged us to communicate science in fun ways. We did demos, such as the electric pickle and liquid nitrogen ice cream, for National Chemistry Week, worked on science projects with children who had special needs at Hattie Larlham, and holiday themed experiments, such as a green flaming pumpkin for Halloween. I was lucky to have her as one of my mentors.

Dr. Erin Lamb

Erin was my teacher for a Biomedical Humanities course on “Genetics and Popular Culture” at Hiram College. In that course, I learned the importance of the public perception of science. For example, we discussed how Gattaca and Chromosome 6 promote fear of laboratory experiments and biotechnology. We also debated issues surrounding biospecimens, including the story of Henrietta Lacks and HeLa cells. This class allowed me to understand the importance of sharing science with everyone. Erin also helped me improve my writing skills by providing constructive feedback about my work.  

   

Dr. Patricia Sime

My PhD advisor at the University of Rochester was Tricia. She is a great role model for young scientists and clinicians. She takes care of patients, mentors students and oversees research in a lab, chairs the Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, and spends time with her family. She was a wonderful mentor who supported me when I chose to go towards a science communication career. Writing and revising drafts of papers, presentations, and abstracts with her taught me about the creative process.

Dr. Jim Hsiao

Jim was an older graduate in the Sime Lab who took me under his wing. He trained me in laboratory techniques and experimental design. Moreover, he became my big brother. He supported me throughout graduate school and continues to give me encouragement from far away. If my experiments weren’t working, he helped me troubleshoot. When I was feeling confused about my future, he reminded me to follow my heart.

Dr. Tracey Baas

I was lucky to be a part of the Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (BEST) program at the University of Rochester (UR), which gave me the opportunity to learn about careers in science communication. As the director of the program, Tracey helped me (similar to many others) pursue a post-doctoral path in science writing. For example, she gave me opportunities to write for the UR BEST newsletter, which allowed me to build up my writing experience. She is always there for graduate students who need career advice. 

What to Wear at Scientific Conferences

Along with science, I’ve always had an interest in fashion. I love watching project Runway and reading tweets about the latest trends. This may be one reason that I always got excited about scientific meetings in graduate school. They gave me a chance to dress up, compared to my daily outfit of jeans and gym shoes in the lab.

Here are some of my tips about chic and comfy conference wear:

• I recommend packing some cute wrinkle-free dresses or shirts. This will help you save time in the morning, so you can focus on a day of exciting science. 

• Personally, I think it’s good to have some outfits that are bright and colorful. Many business clothes at conferences are grey and black. Thus, a pop of color, like red, or a cool print can help you stand out.

• Coordinate with your presentation. For example, if you have a poster that is blue, you could wear a matching dress/shirt/tie. Also, if you have a talk in a large, dark room, you may want to wear a light color.

•          Some female T.V. characters with style that would be great for scientific meetings include Claire Underwood in House of Cards, Olivia Pope in Scandal, Alicia Florrick in The Good Wife, and Jessica Pearson in Suits.    

 

  

• Male T.V. characters wearing nice suits that would work well at scientific conferences are Mike Ross and Harvey Spector in Suits, Walter O’Brien (business attire) in Scorpion, Don Cheadle in House of Lies, and Rafael Barba in Law and Order: SVU. 

• "Let’s get some shoes.” When I’m giving a presentation, I prefer to wear heels. The added height makes me feel taller and more confident. However, it’s also important to have comfortable dress shoes at scientific meetings, especially if you have to walk a lot. I recommend bringing a couple pairs that would work with your clothes, whether it’s flats, men’s dress shoes, high heels, or wedges.

My Red Power Heels

• My last tip is to wear what makes you feel good and expresses your own, individual personality. I love dresses, so that’s what I bring for conferences. A fellow graduate student in my lab liked to wear bow ties at scientific meetings. Some people like to add accent jewelry. #YouDoYou and dress in a way that will make you feel like the scientific expert that you are.