Liv is a first-gen PhD student studying maternal and child health. She’s an avid coffee drinker, traveler, and writer here on Substack, where she shares her day-to-day in Research. In this interview, I specifically ask her about her experience getting her MPH and what got her interested in public health. Keep reading to learn more!

On her page, Liv asked questions about my experience getting a PhD. Check out her post here (insert link)

What sparked your interest in public health?

Like many who end up coming to the discipline, it was a long and winding journey. I thought I would end up in medical school. After working closely with doctors throughout undergrad, I realized working in the US medical system was not for me—witnessing the overmedicalization, for-profit, and insurance-driven system made me realize how flawed it was.

I was doing countering-violent extremism research and ended up taking a grant writing class while studying abroad in Tanzania with a Johns Hopkins global health professor. It was the first time I was introduced to the field, and I realized public health was a much better fit.

What was the process of applying for an MPH like?

It was the year before COVID hit, so it was traditional in the sense of studying for the GRE, gathering recs, drafting essays, and then applying. Overall, it was very straightforward. The process to get it funded—that was a whole different story.

What did your day-to-day look like while getting your MPH?

I loved my time. I am the biggest fan of school!

I worked a full-time remote position at a health tech start-up while doing classes and an internship each year. My days were very much: wake up and cuddle my dog, run around chaotically and get ready, make an iced coffee, head to class, work during breaks, and then head home around 5 or 6 pm to do class and internship work. Rinse and repeat.

How do you apply what you learned during grad school to your work in longitudinal dementia research?

I went into my MPH knowing I needed specific technical skills. I very much focused my time on my master’s, filling perceived skill gaps such as learning statistical software, taking biostatistics and epidemiology classes, and getting a “big” organization name on my resume. I still use skills I learned in grad school daily.

What topics do you feel will become very popular in the field of Public Health in the coming years?

Health tech. With the closing of USAID and the shutting down of many other domestic health interventions, programs, and research, a lot of peers are pivoting toward private industry. For those unfamiliar, USAID was one of the largest funders of global health work, and its closure has left a massive gap in funding and employment across the field. Many public health professionals who built careers in global health are now looking for new paths. I also think our health system is so fragmented that health tech is at least trying to fill a real gap and meet needs—there’s a real need for a shift in how the US cares for its population, especially as we experience a demographic shift with an aging majority.

Beyond health tech, I think climate and health, mental health infrastructure, and advancing reproductive and abortion rights will continue to grow. The field is shifting in big ways. Overall, specific public health skills such as data analysis, implementation science, and evaluation translate well across sectors. The landscape may continue to evolve, but I think there will always be a need for people who understand population health.

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!

Thanks for reading My Ph.Diary.! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Subscribe now

Housekeeping

When making figures, keep the following in mind

1. Consistency is key - that means fonts, their sizes, color codes, and symbols. A general rule of thumb is to keep the font simple and have as few colors as possible. If you use symbols for specific groups, keep this consistent throughout your figures or slides.

2. Images to show experimental design are really helpful for the reader to reference as they go through each figure. BUT, keep these simple and easily interpreted.

3. When showing images that may have multiple colors, show each one on its own (many people prefer these images to be in greyscale, although this is personal preference) and then the overlay.

4. Always include labels for graphs, scalebars, and arrows if you want the reader to focus their attention somewhere specific

If you want to read more about this, check out this article - Scientific Figures that Pop

Your figure-making toolbox

Some of my favorite websites and tutorials

1. BioRender: This is my favorite place to go when I need specific images for a graphic. BioRender has lots of templates that give you a good starting point when making figures that you can simplify and add to as needed. If you need graphics of a certain cell type, instrument, model organism, etc, Biorender probably has it.

   Some things to keep in mind:

   1. The free version of BioRender limits the number of elements you can add to a given figure.

   2. In order to publish figures using BioRender, you must have the paid version

   3. Always cite BioRender when using their graphics

2. Adobe Illustrator: I mainly use Adobe Illustrator for publication figures. I find that it is very useful, but it often comes with a bit of a learning curve. I highly recommend this video series if you’re new! Note: Illustrator is often paid, but many colleges provide it to their students.

3. PRISM 10: I mainly use PRISM for graphing! What I really like about this app is that you can modify the color of your graphs or symbols very easily. Furthermore, if you import your graphs into Adobe Illustrator, you can make modifications to them there as well, sparing you from having to save multiple copies of your graph as you need to adjust sizing, colors, or aspect ratios. Another thing I like about PRISM is that you can copy the appearance of one graph onto another, allowing for consistent aesthetics.

4. FIJI/ ImageJ: Often used for editing images. There are also loads of YouTube tutorials for how to use FIJI.

Hopefully, this is enough to get you started as you begin making figures! If anyone has other tools they like to use, comment them below.

Leave a comment

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!

Thanks for reading My Ph.Diary.! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Subscribe now

Describe what kind of graduate program you are in/ which school

Josie: I’m a second-year PhD student in Food Science at Penn State. I also have a graduate minor in Biotechnology.

Bella: I am a first-year PhD student in biomedical sciences at NYU Grossman School of Medicine!

What led you to this kind of program?

Josie: In my undergraduate program, I had five different research experiences. While not every project was exactly the subject I wanted to be studying, I really enjoyed collaborative, interdisciplinary research. Food science is an inherently interdisciplinary area with lots of applications-focused projects, which I felt were important for me when choosing a graduate program.

Bella: I always had an affinity towards biology, but like Josie, I had a few different research projects, all in different subsets of biology. My undergraduate research in evodevo was my first exposure to interdisciplinary work. It wasn’t until my time as a Research Assistant that I was exposed to more translational research. I chose to study biomedical sciences, and specifically a program at a medical school, so that I can explore my interest in developmental biology, while also having the ability to ask questions about health and disease.

Describe your research area. Why did you choose to pursue this?

Josie: I have always been fascinated with how food creates such strong social connections. At the same time, I am very passionate about working on challenges related to food security in high-risk scenarios like space travel, military operations, and public health crises. These two interests have landed me in alternative proteins, which are food technology alternatives to conventional animal protein sources. I specifically work on cell-cultivated or cultured meat, which is producing meat from cells grown outside of a living animal. This is a very, very new research area (<15 years), so the research community is quite small, and there are many interesting questions to pursue.

Bella: I find that I love seeing biology with my own eyes under the microscope, and being able to identify patterns and morphological changes has always been so exciting to me, so I have been gravitating towards rotation labs that have a strong focus on techniques like microscopy, immunofluorescence, and In Situ Hybridization. Unlike Josie, I am still rotating in labs, so I have not defined my research area yet. Broadly, I am interested in developmental biology and how our tissues pattern themselves. Beyond this, I am interested in how the dysregulation of early development can lead to pathologies later on in life.

What about research is particularly exciting and enjoyable to you (mentorship, conferences, etc.)

Josie: I feel most excited by the last step of the scientific process, which is communicating your research to different audiences. This includes publishing, presenting at conferences, outreach activities, and Substack! Our biggest obligation as scientists is to report what we have contributed to the ever-growing set of knowledge. I also love that research requires you to wear a lot of hats; experiment design, data analysis, and scientific writing all require different but complementary skills, which I find very stimulating.

Bella: I completely agree with Josie! I love communicating my science to others and feel a strong obligation to do so in a way that is accessible. I am also so passionate about mentoring younger scientists. As a former high school and undergraduate researcher, I have had the opportunity to have amazing mentors, who are also still some of my closest friends. I’ve really enjoyed getting to mentor students virtually, as well as in my own labs, whether it be by helping students apply for summer programs or teaching them various protocols in the lab.

What advice do you have for young researchers?

Josie: We give this advice too often, but networking is critical. More specifically, networking at different scales. I think about this as a series of concentric circles. I started within my department at Penn State, then the College of Agricultural Sciences and other disciplines, then at conferences, then my LinkedIn network, and then my Substack. Communicating what you are actively working on with other people can open so many doors. Maybe one of these connections can refer you to a funding opportunity, collaborator, or a job opening. If you’re an undergraduate or a high school student, you can start by emailing someone who does something you’re interested in and asking for an informal 30 minute chat to learn more about the topic or the job. Do this with as many people as you can, especially in college.

Bella: One piece of advice I have is to never be afraid of making mistakes. When I’ve mentored younger students, this is always a concern they bring to me. I simply tell them that making a mistake, identifying where you went wrong, troubleshooting if needed, and then trying again is simply part of the scientific process. In reality, it’s more likely that you’ll have to repeat an experiment two, three, or four times than get it perfect on the first try. However, I always stress that if you do make a mistake and something goes wrong, to be honest and tell someone. You won’t get in trouble for making a genuine mistake, but leaving it unaddressed may be harmful to your own project, or the work of your labmates.

Thanks for reading! As always, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!

Leave a comment

Interested in being featured??? Comment below or send me a message! I’m always looking for more stories to share!

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!

Thanks for reading My Ph.Diary.! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Subscribe now

So, by the time January came around, I was absolutely itching to get back into the lab. So once I got the all clear to start doing experiments, I hit the ground running as fast as I could (and got as much done as possible in a span of 2 months). In this post, I’ll be noting the things I really enjoyed about this rotation and things I would have done differently (In the style of rose, bud, thorn, because why not)

Rose: What I really enjoyed about this rotation

1. In my first rotation, I was able to pitch a mini project and follow up on my own questions. If you are in a situation where you are rotating with a PI who will let you do this, I highly recommend it. I think this gave me a good idea of what it would be like to be a student in this lab. I got to see how the PI would embrace my ideas, their approach to solving scientific questions, and better understand how they lead various projects. While this was an intimidating thing, I really think I benefited from doing this. Further, I was so excited about the science and was really happy to go into the lab every day.

2. I got to know the members of the lab beforehand. If you are in a situation where you can do this, DO IT! Being able to get to meet everyone a few times before starting my rotation made the transition into the lab so much easier. In fact, by the time I was there for a few weeks, I didn’t feel like just a rotation student; I already felt part of the team.

3. I really embraced being a member of the department I was in. Being able to attend talks, holiday parties, and social hours all gave me a good idea of what it would be like to be a member of the scientific community I was rotating in. I got to meet students from different labs, see what kind of science they were working on, and get a feel for the “vibes”. The floor I was on has lots of students, and this allowed me to identify that that is something I really enjoy!

Bud: Things I am going to apply to my next rotation

1. One place where I think I may have fallen a little short was in asking questions quickly. Asking for help has always been something that I procrastinate, because, to be honest, I feel bad bothering people. However, this next time around, I am going to remind myself that learning the lab’s techniques requires getting help from the current members of the lab, so I should not be afraid to ask for it. Additionally, my first 8-week rotation FLEW by, so really, I don’t have much time to waste.

Thorn: What went wrong

To be honest, I had such a fun time in my first rotation! I feel the lab and the PI were both really great fits. I still have two other rotations, so we will have to see where those take me, but overall very optimistic!

Thanks for reading my quick reflection on my first rotation! Stay tuned for the next one in 8 weeks :)

Leave a comment

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!

Thanks for reading My Ph.Diary.! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Subscribe now

Subscribe now

1. Do your homework

Before even setting foot in the lab for your first day, it’s important that you do a bit of reading. This will not only make your initial meetings with your PI more productive, but will help you in lab meetings, group discussions, or as you complete some of your early experiments.

I recommend reading the following:

• Any recent papers from the lab- these will probably be foundational for some of the current projects, so this will orient you towards what everyone is working on.

• Reviews within the lab’s area of research- these will give you a bigger picture of what people are working on in the field and where the knowledge gaps are.

• Papers related to the project you are working on. Note: if you don’t know which papers are appropriate, you can always ask your PI or the person you will be working with.

2. Always have a notebook

In every meeting, talk, or at the bench, always have a notebook to write notes. This will help you in a few ways:

• Keeps you focused during talks and meetings,

• gives you a place to remember any ideas, questions, or concerns that come to your mind.

• provides a place where you can keep information that you may want to reference later

Note: always try to have a notebook. Some people prefer an iPad or a laptop, but I find that these may distract others. I would follow what appears to be the norm of the lab if you choose a digital option; I do believe a notebook is always the safest.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Asking questions is one of the best things you can do to make a good impression early in your time in the lab. Not only does it show that you are listening to a talk, thinking about it, and are curious, but it also shows that you are not afraid to speak in a group setting. The best way to prepare yourself to ask questions is to read up on whatever the presenter is working on, even if it is some quick surface-level reading. Further, I find it much easier to ask questions when I have a general idea of what kind of experiments people in a given field rely on. When I know what’s in the scientist’s experimental toolkit, I find it easier to suggest experiments or share my ideas.

4. Be in lab as much as possible

It’s often that people will decide to show you a technique, or some new data they have, without giving you much notice. Therefore, spending as much time in the lab as you can (within reason) allows you to be present for some of these spontaneous teaching moments.

Furthermore, the more you are in lab, the more your lab mates will get to

know you. This not only makes lab a more comfortable place for you, but also builds trust in your lab mates. When you build this foundation early, it becomes more likely that they will want to ask you to help them with their experiments independently.

5. Give yourself grace

In the beginning, you may make mistakes and have some tough days. Just rememeber to give yourself grace. Everyone in the lab had to learn these techniques for the first time, so you are never alone in this. Navigating mistakes and troubleshooting are all part of science, so don’t get hung up on experiments not going your way on the first try.

I hope you enjoyed reading these tips and tricks! Feel free to share questions, comments, and additional tips below.

Leave a comment

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!

Thanks for reading My Ph.Diary.! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Subscribe now

The TL;DR

This paper mainly focused on a pain disorder called interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). Patients who have this disorder often also experience irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The group that authored this paper found that this was due to a mast cell-sensory neuron circuit that both initiates inflammation in the bladder and then propagates this sensitivity to the colon.

Let’s break this down

Cross-talk between the bladder and colon

Both of these organs are mainly responsible for removing waste from our bodies, which requires them to sense a variety of immunological and mechanical cues and respond to them. When these conditions change, in the case of inflammation in the bladder for IC/BPS patients, pain occurs. Many of these patients also experience pain and discomfort in the colon, as IBP is comorbid in up to 75% of patients with IC/BPS.

This study found that there is a set of shared neurons between these two organs. Not only that, but upon stimulating infection in the bladder, there was also inflammation in the colon. This may explain why other pathologies drive multiorgan visceral pain syndromes, as well as why visceral pain is so difficult to localize.

Mast Cells

Mast cells are a subset of immune cells that mainly localize to barrier surfaces that are exposed to internal and external pathogens, such as the skin, GI tract, and respiratory system. The antibody IgE (the antibody responsible for allergic reactions) acts on these cells and leads to symptoms such as itching. This paper showed that Mast cells, specifically those expressing the protein MRGPRX2, interact with interorgan neurons to propagate pain from the bladder to the colon.

Think of it like one of those DIY phones that are really two cups connected by a string: the mast cells transmit the signal/ pain from the bladder to the colon, or the cups, via interorgan neurons, which act like the string.

So, why do we care about this?

Historically, cross-talk between organs has been attributed to the circulation of hormones or other immune factors through our blood. This paper adds to the idea that organs communicate humoraly by establishing that there can be a physical connection (via neurons) as well. This observation provides an alternative way to treat these pain disorders, as there is potential to target the subset of mast cells that was described above.

This was an extremely crude summary of the paper- if you are interested in diving deeper, check out the paper here! Feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts below!

Leave a comment

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!

Thanks for reading My Ph.Diary.! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Subscribe now

Subscribe now

1. Volunteer with Big Brother Big Sister

I have talked about it a few times on my blog, but I was a volunteer for 6 years with my college’s chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters. You may think to yourself, “What does volunteering with kids have to do with a PhD in biology?” Here’s exactly how I talked about this experience:

Mentorship is quite possibly the backbone of science. Academic research relies heavily on PhD students and post-docs training the next generation of scientists. Without this, there will be nobody to fill their shoes when they are gone. Therefore, I discussed my previous experience mentoring others, as well as my desire to pay it forward and mentor a high school student or undergraduate while I pursue my PhD.

2. Editor of my college’s Medical Humanities Journal

I served on the editorial board of my school’s Medical Humanities Journal, where I wrote and edited pieces about medicine and the human experience that comes with it. Public trust, as well as the furthering of scientific discoveries, relies on scientists’ will to communicate their findings both with each other and the general public (in a way that is accessible to them). Therefore, I talked about this experience to show that I am passionate about communicating science.

2b. Talks and Poster Presentations

Talks and poster presentations were another way that I discussed my passion for communicating science. This is also a great way to show interviewers that you are willing to be an active participant in your scientific community, as well as an opportunity to share if you won any awards/ scholarships to present at these conferences.

2c. Blog or creative project

I didn’t have my Substack when I applied to PhD programs, but if I did, I would also talk about it when sharing my passion for communicating science.

3. Interdisciplinary collaborations

As a technician, I had the opportunity to collaborate with chemists/ biotech as well as clinicians for two of my projects. Graduate schools, especially those that are umbrella programs, are excited to hear about collaboration across areas of science, as this is becoming increasingly common. When talking about this, I made it a point to mention the value in interdisciplinary work, as I got to learn new science, as well as gain different perspectives on my work. I also made sure to share the challenges of this, as I had to get creative with how I explained my portion of the collaboration to those outside my field.

4. Volunteer at my local yoga studio

While this one is a little unconventional, it did actually come up in some of my interviews. Some interviewers will ask you about your hobbies and things you like to do. Or maybe they’ll ask you about how to maintain work/life balance. For me, this was attending yoga classes, as well as finding a community at my local yoga studio.

5. Senior thesis

Writing a senior thesis was probably one of the things I talked about the most for a few reasons. First, this was an example of a project that I led. I planned my own experiments, had meetings with my PI, developed protocols for the lab, and wrote a complete thesis, for which I also won an award. As a PhD student, nobody will tell you what experiments to do when, it is completely self-directed, so if you have a project that you took the lead on, be ready to share the details- what you learned from the experience, what you struggled with, what you accomplished.

6. Biostatistics TA

This experience was a good place for me to highlight my (minimal) teaching experience. I got to share that I not only became good at troubleshooting in R, but also became proficient at teaching basic stats concepts to students. This was also a place for me to talk about making classes accessible by giving students study resources in a variety of formats (notes, videos, review sessions). I had talked about learning that students have a variety of learning styles, and that adapting to them can make them more successful.

Hopefully, my experiences give you some inspiration on what to talk about during your graduate school interviews! Focus on what you did in each experience, but also what you LEARNED from it. These programs want to see that you are passionate about science and research, and doing things that will enhance this experience for yourself and others (whether it be through mentorship, collaboration, teaching, etc.) Feel free to leave a comment below with other tips, tricks, or questions about the PhD interview process.

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!

Thanks for reading My Ph.Diary.! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Subscribe now

I always try to remind myself that these days will, in fact, pass. During the start of every new experience, I remember that the best times of my life started with a bit of confusion. As a technician, straight out of the bubble that was my undergraduate university, I had no clue what I was doing. I was at Harvard Medical School, surrounded by scientists who were older than me, certainly wiser than me, and more confident than me (at least that’s how it looked). For probably the first time in my life, I had imposter syndrome. While the early days in the lab were slow, walks home were filled with the feeling of defeat, and journey’s to work with dread. But like all phases, this one passed. I learned the ropes of the lab. I became confident and independent. I made some amazing friends. And by the time I applied to grad school, I felt prepared. So, while I spent a few days of my rotation reading and watching others before it was my turn to pick up a pipette, I reminded myself that the best things come from a bit of nerves.

Trying new things for the first time always makes me hesitant. The fear of messing up still gets in the way, even though more experiments have gone wrong than I can count. This once again gets me thinking about the past. I try to recount all of the experiments that I’ve done that didn’t go the way I planned, but to my surprise, I don’t really recall specific ones, especially from the early days of my time as a tech. This subtle reminder: that the early mistakes really mean nothing in the grand scheme of things, keeps me motivated to pull the trigger and stumble through new techniques- the finesse will come with time- all that matters now is that I start.

With nerves and anticipation also comes a lot of joy. I’m excited to go to the lab, even while I’m in a new field, doing work a bit outside of my comfort zone (working with mice being the main thing that makes this experience SO NEW). For the first time in a long time, I’m actually really enjoying reading papers, coming up with ideas, and thinking about where my project can go beyond the 8 weeks of my rotation. I’ve also enjoyed meeting new people, seeing new faces, and really getting to see what being a PhD student is like.

If you’d like to continue following along with my journey through graduate school, subscribe below!

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!

Thanks for reading My Ph.Diary.! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Subscribe now

Subscribe now

1. Choose Interviewers Strategically

Many programs will ask you to list 5-10 faculty members that you want to interview with (although you are not guaranteed a meeting with these people). While it’s easy to pick names that may be familiar to you, there are a few extra considerations you can make.

• Pick faculty members who are conducting similar research. Even if this isn’t a field you see yourself in as a grad student, choosing a faculty member who will be able to ask you questions about your work will make for a more interesting conversation, as well as allow you to answer some of their questions. With proper preparation, you’ll really be able to show off your expertise!

• Ask the people in your network for recommendations. If any of your lab mates or your PI knows anyone at the institution you are interviewing at, ask them for suggestions! They will know first-hand who will make for a good interaction.

• Make your picks consistent with what you wrote about in your application. Make sure the names you pick are within the field and the area of study you wrote about in your application. From this point forward, you want to ensure that you are giving admissions committees a clear view of who you are and what your goals for your PhD are. Further, if you mentioned anyone specifically in your personal statement, also include their name here.

2. Review your personal statement, CV, etc.

This is one thing that I wish I had done while preparing for my interviews. Before your first interview, give your personal statement and CV a glance. Since your interviewers will probably be doing the same, you can get an idea of what experiences they may ask about, as well as any specific questions they may ask you. Further, reviewing your personal statement allows you to craft answers to questions that align with your application.

3. Preparation is key

There are lots of ways you can do this, but this is the approach that I took (which I think worked out well):

• Write out a list of all of your research experiences. Highlight key techniques you used, the questions you were asking, major findings, and any output from the project - think publications, conferences, talks.

• List out your extracurriculars. What skills did you learn? How were you involved? Once again, highlight your impact and how these experiences helped you grow.

• Focus on HOW these experiences impacted you as a scientist. Did you grow as a science communicator? Did you learn to become more resourceful? Did you become a better researcher? Many students will talk about the points on their resume, but what really allows some to stand out is that they have put thought into how these experiences shaped their motivation to pursue a PhD.

4. Practice!

This can be done in a few ways, but the main objective here is to get comfortable talking about your science before interviewing. You could consider:

• Giving a lab meeting in the weeks before your interview

• Talking to friends or family about your work

• Mock interviewing with a friend or lab mates

5. Confidence is Key!

While this may seem trivial, it’s so important that you remain confident during this process. You may encounter a grumpy interviewer, or feel like comparing yourself to the other interviewers that you may meet. The important thing to keep telling yourself is that nobody knows your work like you do. OWN IT! Take things step by step and build yourself back up if someone tries to knock you down.

6. You will be tired- take time to recharge your battery

These interview weekends are no joke- you're talking, mingling, interviewing, doing various activities for days on end. It’s very normal to be pretty exhausted after each interview weekend, especially if you are traveling. While this time is so quick and busy, remember to find time to rest.

7. Look the part!

While these interviews are not incredibly formal (suit and tie is usually a bit on the dressier side), remember to wear something where you will feel your best. If you feel good (and confident), you’ll be a little bit less nervous. Additionally, some of these interview weekends have a lot of walking built into the schedule, so grab yourself a pair of professional, but also comfortable, shoes.

8. Keep track of everything

Planning these trips also involves a lot of administrative work, so keep track of everything. I suggest tagging emails from each school so you can keep travel information, schedules, and general information organized. If you are traveling for interviews, you may have to coordinate with travel agents, so ensure that you respond to them promptly and put information in your calendar as soon as you get it.

Many programs will also reimburse for food and other expenses that you may have during travel to interview weekends. I recommend you keep the following documented:

• Any credit card charges for food, taxis, etc

• Receipts from Uber or Lyft (this was the main thing I got reimbursed for)

• Credit card statements (you’ll usually be asked for this later on)

9. Your interviewers aren’t there to scare you

In fact, it’s the opposite! While it feels like these interviews are a test, many times they are not. In most cases, interviewers are trying to convince you to join their program, so take a deep breath and treat these interviews more like a conversation with someone new. Have questions about the program, share what excites you about a PhD, and BE YOURSELF!

10. HAVE FUN!

When the stress of meeting with faculty ends, many of these interview weekends are actually quite fun! I did so many activities like escape rooms, Korean BBQ, and bowling! I even got to view NYC from the top of the Empire State Building. I even saw some of the same people at many of my interviews, so I made some friends during this crazy time!

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!

Thanks for reading My Ph.Diary.! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

While some like to print their papers and keep them in a pile on their desk, I prefer to organize the papers I read digitally. In this article, I’ll share my paper reading routine, which I developed through a bit of trial and error as I wrote my thesis in undergrad, worked as a Research Assistant in Boston, and now as I start my PhD.

Subscribe now

Annotating

While some skip this, I am a HUGE FAN of annotating almost everything I read. Currently, I do this using Zotero. Zotero is free to use, and you can download it on multiple devices. This allows me to have it on my iPad, which is how I annotate using my Apple Pencil, and my laptop. As you annotate on one device, it will automatically update the document on the other.

As I set up to read a new paper, I open it on both of these devices. I use my laptop to read and highlight the text of the paper and simultaneously look at the figures on my iPad, annotating them as I read. I find this to be super helpful because when I reference an old paper, I’m often looking for the information that I need in the figures, rather than in the text. Annotating the figures puts all of this information in one place, so I can quickly find what I need.

If I don’t have my iPad and am reading solely on my laptop, I also enjoy adding “Notes” to highlighted text in Zotero. I normally use this function to add any questions, ideas, or connections I am making between papers. I find that I do this most when I am reading a review article or reading sections of a paper that have a lot of background and future directions, such as the introduction or the discussion.

Storing and Organizing

Another thing I enjoy about Zotero is the ability to make folders to organize papers. I usually will organize them based on the project, the lab I am reading about, or the class I am reading the papers for. I especially enjoy reading papers for class in Zotero, so that if I have to reference them in an assignment later, I can quickly add the citation to whatever document I am working on.

Further, when writing a paper, I will often create a separate folder in Zotero for easy access to citations when writing. While Zotero can be a little slow as the length of a document increases, I still find that it’s the easiest way to add citations to a document that I’m working on.

The Key Here: make the most important information easily accessible

One way I’ve done this is by creating a spreadsheet of all of the papers I’ve read. In this, I include the title, the PubMed ID, a link to the paper, a quick summary, the date read, and keywords that I can filter when needed. I really enjoy using Notion (which I’ve talked about with her a lot) for a few reasons:

• Access on all devices - since Notion saves your work in the cloud, if I don’t happen to have my personal computer, I can log into Notion on any browser and see my work.

• Ability to filter and reorder - When you make a spreadsheet in Notion, you can filter by tag, only show papers that are read/ unread, organize with the newest/ oldest papers first, etc. While a lot of this is also possible in Excel, I find that I really like the look of Notion.

• I also take notes about each paper I read in Notion - What I especially like about Notion is that each entry in my spreadsheet can open up into a separate page. This gives me space to take notes on the paper, which usually consists of background information that I may want to reference quickly. While I don’t do this all the time, I find that it’s nice to have an easy-access place for key facts so that I can skip going through my notes on the paper itself.

A peek into my library

Notion pages like these are shareable, so if you’d like a copy of my spreadsheet that you can fill out yourself, send me a message or comment below!

Leave a comment

There you have it!

Here’s how I’ve been reading and organizing all of the papers I’ve read so far as a grad student. Please comment below with any questions, thoughts, and comments!

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!

Thanks for reading My Ph.Diary.! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

I’m back after a little bit of a hiatus. To be honest, I’ve been a bit busy with classwork, which has left me a little uninspired. Now that things are slowing down and I’ve gotten my footing, I’m going to be posting more on here, so if there’s anything specific you’d like to see, feel free to comment down below.

Leave a comment

What I’ve been up to

My first semester of my PhD has consisted mainly of classwork and sorting out rotations.

In terms of class, I’ve really enjoyed my introduction to immunology course. As one of the few in the class with zero immunology background (as in, I barely knew what B and T cells did), I thought that the class would be really difficult. While there was a bit of a learning curve at the beginning, mainly due to there being A LOT of vocabulary, I started really enjoying the class after the first exam. I also found that reading the textbook that corresponded to our lectures was helpful, although I didn’t need to do that later on in the course.

Another class I really enjoyed was my data science class. It was a super helpful refresher, and I even got to learn how to code in the command line (which was a bit confusing at first). Now, I feel like a full-on computer scientist, although I am NOTHING of the sort.

My rotation lab search has definitely sorted itself out, which is a HUGE relief. In the midst of a government shutdown and NIH funding cuts, things were looking a little grim, but as of now, I have 2/3 of my rotations picked out, and I am so excited for both of them! I will say this- to new PhD students, and those applying now, things may be a little confusing, and not as straightforward as you may have initially expected, but with a little bit of patience, things will fall into place.

Outside of school work, I’ve established what feels like a pretty solid routine. I find that I’m taking time to take care of myself much more than I did as an undergrad. I think that spending time moving my body and hanging out with friends has made me much more productive than I was the last time I was a student. I’ve also been loving life in NYC! Occasional walks to Broadway for a show here and there have been one of my favorite things to do. I am also LOVING the Christmas markets all throughout the city, even though they are a little bit overpriced lol.

My goals for next semester

I’ve set a few goals for myself for next semester, which, as I’ve done before, I’m putting here so that I stick to them:

1. Maintain healthy habits when I start working in lab: With changes in my routine between college, working, and now my PhD, I’ve found that when my schedule gets busy, I tend to sacrifice the parts of the day that are mostly for me (working out, reading, writing on Substack). So, I’m setting the goal of keeping up my routine and SHIFTING it, rather than eliminating the parts of my day that make me happy.

2. More involvement at school: I am definitely eager to become more involved in some of the student organizations offered by my program. So far, I am signed up to help give interviews for this upcoming application cycle, which I am really excited for.

3. More writing on Substack: Although it may take some time, I’m really hoping to work myself back up to three posts a week. Whether it be more updates like this one, admissions advice, or science writing.

So there you have it…

I hope you enjoyed reading what I’ve been up to! More coming soon (I’ve set the goal here, so now I have to get back to it)

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!

Thanks for reading My Ph.Diary.! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Subscribe now

Last Week's Post!

In this post, Adele and I discuss navigating rotations! For many MSc and PhD students, rotations are short-term placements in labs, usually during the first semester or year of a graduate degree. Think of these rotations as a “trial run.” This time is mainly used to evaluate if a lab is the right fit before joining. Check out our Q&A below!

Subscribe now

What program are you in and where?

Bella: I am a PhD student at NYU Grossman School of Medicine! My program is an umbrella program, so I am not affiliated with a specific department yet.

Adele: I am a MSc student at University of Toronto Department of Molecular Genetics!

How many rotations will you complete during your degree?

Bella: I will complete 2-3 rotations. I have the option to complete additional rotations if needed.

Adele: I complete 3 rotations and have the option for an additional one as well.

How long will each of your rotations last?

Bella: My rotations will be 8 weeks each, and will all be back-to-back from January to June of 2026. If I need to complete additional rotations, I do have the option to do so.

Adele: My rotations are a bit shorter because I’m starting in a Masters program, so each is 5 weeks long. They start in September and end mid-December 2025.

What is the best way to find labs you may be interested in?

Bella: I found labs of interest in a few ways. The first thing I did was look through my institution’s website. Since there is a large number of faculty at my school, this was a bit time-consuming. To narrow this large group down as much as I can, I looked at specific departments and institutes that may be of interest, rather than the entire list of faculty. Second, my program has organized a class where PIs looking for students can present a 5-minute talk on their research. This has also helped find potential rotation labs. Lastly, attending work-in-progress meetings or department-run seminars is a good way to get exposed to the research happening at your school. I’ve found this to be very helpful as well.

Adele: In the summer before I started my program, each faculty member who was recruiting graduate students for their lab submitted a brief description of the thesis project and what they were looking for in potential students. From there, I read their website and publications further in depth to make a list of about 10-20 faculty that I was interested in rotating with. Instead of a class with presentations, my program organized something called “Power Hour” where each Principal Investigator (PI, a faculty member who leads a lab) also has 5 minutes to pitch to first-year students, with a networking hour after. This was a great time to get a sense of what the vibes were of each PI that I was interested in. Finally, I got a lot of advice from talking to more senior graduate students in my program.

How do you connect with a PI that you may want to rotate with?

Bella: I start by reaching out via email. I usually mention a few things: an introduction to myself and my previous research experiences, why I am interested in their lab, and I typically ask a question about one of the lab’s recent papers. I usually ask to meet in person to learn more about the ongoing projects in the lab and to learn about the PI’s mentoring style.

Adele: I agree with Bella! Make sure your emails are personal to each PI that you reach out to. Always try to meet the PI in person before you commit to a rotation in a specific lab. As long as you show effort in reading some of their papers before your conversation, and you ask questions, they’ll always be happy to talk to you!

Any tips for a successful rotation?

Bella: I have not completed any rotations yet, but one thing I’ve learned from older students is to use the rotation as a time to assess the fit of the lab, rather than being focused on generating a high volume of data or getting on a paper. Also, preparation beforehand will set you up for as much success as possible. Read a few papers, or even attend a lab meeting if possible, so you are more familiar with the lab’s work, and start generating ideas for experiments or projects before you arrive.

Adele: I also agree with Bella on this one, and I would say try to talk to everyone in the lab and learn about how their projects are going. You can learn a lot about a potential supervisor from the trajectory of the current or recently graduated students! Finally, don’t be afraid to ask questions at any point to anyone - your PI, your mentor, or other lab members. It’s better to ask and stay curious during your rotations to try and soak up as much information as possible!

Hopefully, this quick Q&A can provide a sense of what rotations are like! An open mind and curiosity will always lead you to the right lab environment. Feel free to comment any questions below. Whether you’re a student or just someone curious about what grad school is like, we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Leave a comment

1. R is free: other software that you may use to analyze data, like Prism, for example, may not be accessible to someone just starting out, since it comes with a cost of about $150/year.

2. Most troubleshooting and code can be worked out online. There are lots of resources for finding R code online. I’ll explain them in this post.

3. It’s commonly used by biologists. At both my undergrad and grad school, I have been provided courses to teach students R.

Leave a comment

Getting Started

There are a few ways you could get started with coding in R.

1. Free EdX Course: https://www.edx.org/learn/r-programming/harvard-university-data-science-r-basics

   • I think this course is a good intro to R. You can either take the classes for free or pay for the certificate if you choose. This course will give you the tools needed to clean your data and run basic analyses and visualizations.

2. Learn on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RProgramming101

   • R Program 101 has great videos that start at the very beginning. You’ll be walked through how to download R, how to visualize data, and more! These videos are short so that you can learn small bits of R at a time.

3. Reading: If you prefer to supplement by reading

   • R for Data Science by Garrett Grolemund &

   • Hadley Wickham R in Action by Robert Kabacoff

Troubleshooting

There are lots of places you could go to online if you are having trouble with your code. At times, I ask ChatGPT or consult websites like Stack Overflow. There are also cheatsheets that have been contributed by people in the community. You can find them here!

If you’re keen to learn R, I hope some of these resources help you out!

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!

Subscribe now

New City

I just finished up my first month living in NYC! Previously coming from Boston, I thought life wouldn’t be too different, but oh boy, was I wrong. I’ve spent the past month exploring as much as I can. New coffee shops to study in, new restaurants to grab a bite to eat, new bars to hang out in, and tons of stores and shopping to explore. I’ve found the best way to really get a sense of the surrounding neighborhood is to WALK everywhere (even if it takes 40 minutes to an hour), because you can truly see so much of this city just by wandering to your destination.

With all the newness, I’ve also found a good routine. My days are mostly spent in class, but I maximize my free time with a yoga class at CorePower or some studying at school. Right now, things don’t feel too crazy, but I have deadlines approaching, so that might change.

New Friends

I’ve definitely been trying my best to attend any events that my program hosts. Happy hours have been a nice way to connect with peers, and I’ve been going to Board Game Club, which has been helpful with meeting students outside of my cohort. Turns out, I’m really bad at social deception games, which the group as a whole really loves. (If anyone has any tips, comment below.) I’ve also been trying to say “yes” to as many outings as possible, although this is getting a little overwhelming and also a little expensive (lol).

Leave a comment

New Classes

Classes have been relatively interesting. The workload is manageable, with the exception of times that I’m preparing for a presentation or exam. I find myself almost more engaged than I was during undergrad, and am honestly shocked that the adjustment to being a full-time student again wasn’t as tough as I thought. I’ve even found some friends to study with, reminiscent of my Boston College days. My favorite class right now is my Introduction to Immunology course, which has honestly shocked me. So far, we’ve covered the interworkings of innate immunity. It’s so crazy how much is going on at once!

New Lab?

I’m currently in the process of finding rotation labs. Since we don’t start our rotations until January, I have a bit of time to get this all sorted. Lots of my weeks have been spent meeting with PIs and their students to get an idea of the lab environment and the projects that are available to students.

I will be real- this part of my first month has been a bit difficult. While many PIs want to take students for rotations, research labs across the US have been in a sticky situation in terms of receiving their funding. In a lot of instances, I’ve gotten answers like “I’d love to have you rotate, but I have to wait until I have a clearer idea of what my funding will look like” or “reach out in another month or so”. While this is a little discouraging, I have been telling myself to be patient and that I am not alone in this situation.

So, there you have it! My first month of my PhD. It’s been exciting, challenging, and really fun so far!

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!

Subscribe now

Subscribe now

These are tips that are most applicable for students applying to biomedical sciences PhD programs!

A general outline

• As I was gearing up to write my personal statement, the first thing that I did was read essays from those whom I knew had a successful application. I read my lab mates’ personal statements, and even found inspiration from some sources online. One common theme is that many of these statements started with some type of hook. The purpose of the hook is to draw the reader in. To use applying for a biomedical science PhD as a case study, this hook could be about why you are passionate about cancer research, or why you enjoy working in a lab. This is a place for you to add a bit of personality to your essay and set yourself apart from others before you even get into it.

• Next, write about your most relevant research experiences. This should be the bulk of the essay, and where you will do the most work to prove why you are a good fit for this degree.

  • Focus mostly on what you did or learned. Try to show this through the use of images rather than just listing what you did.

  • Make sure to emphasize the impact of your work. Did you create a new protocol utilized by members of the lab? Are you testing drugs that may be used in a clinical trial? How does your work contribute to the conversation in your scientific community?

  • Prioritize talking about the experiences that you would want to talk about in your interviews. Many interviewers will have your application pulled up on their computers before speaking with you.

• Share why you are interested in a PhD. Do you want to go into biotech or remain in academia after you complete your degree and later a postdoc? Use this portion of the essay to share your goals for after you graduate.

• Share why you are interested in the school you are writing the essay for. Perhaps you are interested in translational research, and the program you are applying to is affiliated with a hospital. Or maybe you really want to gain teaching experience, and this program allows you to teach and mentor undergrads. Also, emphasize what this school has specifically that can help you reach the goals you stated above. This section is also a place where you can mention a few PIs that you’d be interested in working with. Some things to keep in mind as you do this:

  • It is stronger if you reach out and meet with the PIs beforehand.

  • Make sure the work of the PIs aligns with the story you are telling in your essay.

  • Make sure the PIs are within the department or research area that you are applying to (some umbrella programs have specific research areas that you can apply to, so keep this in mind as you write each statement)

Tips and tricks to make this process less brutal

• Be concise- each school has a different word limit for statements, but they are generally about 500- 1000 words across the board. You have a lot to say, with very few words to do it. Every word and sentence counts; if it does not add to the overall message, take it out.

• Be mindful of the story you want to tell. Make sure your personal statement is cohesive with your CV, the PIs you reach out to, and what is highlighted on your CV. Also, make sure this aligns with the type of program or school you are choosing to apply to. For example, don’t write about your love for clinical research if the program is not associated with a hospital.

• Don’t get too hung up on the hook. While being creative makes the essay more interesting to read, it is not completely necessary. Focus on showing admissions committees that you are ready to be a PhD student.

• Write one essay and adapt and change it for each school, as different programs have slightly different questions that you need to answer, but the bare bones are pretty consistent if you are applying to programs within the same area of study.

• Edit over a longer period of time than you think. Work on the essay, put it down for a bit, and then look back at it with fresh eyes another day. This will make it easier to spot mistakes and will also give you time to find some inspiration between writing sessions.

• Have as many people as you can read it and give you advice. While this process can be kinda awkward and stressful, it helps SO MUCH. Have your lab mates, your PIs, close friends, and mentors read it. Take the advice that you need and leave what you don’t. Regardless, you will benefit from these different perspectives.

Leave a comment

While this process can be a bit brutal, it is SO REWARDING. Take things step by step, and you’ll get it done!

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!

“So how long does that take like 2 years?” (LOL)

“So what do you actually do during a PhD?”

“Why did you choose to do a PhD?” I’ll be answering this last question in this article.

Subscribe now

1. I’ve always been excited about the process of research

My interest in science brought me to the bench at a fairly young age. Before I really understood what I was doing, I spent summers in the lab. I enjoyed asking questions, and I enjoyed employing various techniques to solve them. I loved the process of science. I liked looking at results, troubleshooting, and trying things again (and again) until I got it right.

As an undergraduate, when my research became more self-directed, this curiosity bloomed even more. I loved meetings with my PI where we’d brainstorm new experiments, and I enjoyed developing protocols that my lab mates later used. (teaching yourself how to dissect zebrafish pectoral fins probably sounds stressful to some- and believe me, it was- but I loved the challenge, the trial and error, and the feeling of finally getting it right). Finally, I loved the end bits of a research project. I love synthesizing my data with what was already out there, writing it into the perfect story, and sharing it with others.

This once again brings me back to my love for the process. I’ve had bits and pieces of it through various research experiences, and by the end of my first year as a research technician, I knew I was ready for the next step. At this point, I gathered the materials I needed to apply to PhD programs.

2. Curiosity and the desire to learn something new in depth

A PhD certainly requires curiosity. When research is self-directed, it takes a bit of passion for the topic to get you up in the morning. For me personally, I have areas of biology that interest me, but what really excites me about a PhD is the opportunity to become an expert in my field, discover something novel, and contribute to the field at large. This novelty is what makes a PhD especially unique and is often viewed as one of the requirements for graduation. (Fun fact: the degree is called a Doctorate in Philosophy, philosophy being “love of wisdom,” further emphasizing the passion of those pursuing this degree.) Rather than writing a thesis on preexisting knowledge, PhD students are learning and discovering.

Science is one big conversation, which PhD students are a huge part of, adding my own findings, based on what makes me curious, is especially exciting to me. At my institution, there are over 300 labs in a variety of research areas. Getting to even scratch the surface of what scientists are discovering here is something that I am greatly looking forward to.

3. Developing various soft skills

PhD students don’t just complete experiments at the bench. This degree offers lots of opportunities to develop various soft skills. Some that I hope to take advantage of are the opportunity to teach, to write and communicate science in various ways, to practice public speaking and presenting, and to mentor. These skills become useful in a variety of careers.

4. Lots of options for jobs post-grad

While many newly minted PhDs end up pursuing an academic postdoc, there are so many career options beyond that. Here is an extremely shortened list of “nontraditional” careers for PhDs:

• Consultants

• Patent Lawyers

• Science Communicators

• Venture Capital

• AND MORE! (I will probably write an article on this in the future)

I love the bench, but frankly, I see myself applying the other skills I’ll learn as a graduate student to one of these nontraditional careers. While these careers require different means of preparation during the PhD, they are connected by the fact that they require a certain way of thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving, as well as knowledge in biology. A PhD is not required to learn these skills, but it is an excellent option to do so.

So there you have it! These are the reasons that I personally chose to pursue a PhD. While I am only a month in, I will tell you this. I love learning and being a student again, and I am so grateful to be in a position where I get to let my curiosity and interests guide me every day!

Leave a comment

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!

Subscribe now

The members of the innate immune response are the OG islanders on “Love Island”. Most of those bombshells who come in have little chance at really joining the squad. The OGs have been around since the show started, aka your whole life, so they’re the first to respond to the drama since they’ve been conditioned to stick together and fight against anyone who tries to stir the pot. Biologically, cells such as macrophages, monocytes, and neutrophils come to the rescue, initially fighting off pathogens through mechanisms like phagocytosis, inflammation, and pathogen destruction.

So a hot new bombshell entered the villa, and the OGs ran to the scene to check things out (and maybe even scared them away). The word begins to spread with the help of the dendritic cells. The dendritic cells are the ones who really get things going. They spread the gossip to the rest of the islanders in the villa - the adaptive immune system, which will take action a bit later. In our bodies, dendritic cells present the antigen to the T cells, which will further address the drama in the villa.

T cells will respond to the drama in the villa in a few ways. Cytotoxic T cells try to squash the drama at its source, as they attempt to kill anything foreign. Think of this as face-to-face combat; they might go up to the drama-starting bomb shell and just simply punch them in the face or something (lol). Helper T cells will signal to the B cells (which we will talk about next). Think of this communication as another layer to whatever game of telephone is happening in the villa as the drama spreads. Not only do they activate B cells, but they signal other cells, such as the OG islanders we mentioned before, to continue trying to squash whatever drama is happening. Finally, adaptive T cells are the ones that try to clean up this whole mess. They do the opposite of the immune response to help the body recover. Think of them as a friend who is always trying to keep people together in the midst of chaos.

The B cells are a completely different beast. Rather than attacking the drama themselves, they send out signals to do it for them. B cells do the same thing in our body by secreting antibodies, which will target the pathogen or the disease. The islanders of “Love Island “didn’t have phones or social media, but the producers did! So, think of the B cells as the people behind the scenes, attacking the bombshell by sending a text to the group, sending them on a date, or announcing a recoupling. This response is also known as the humoral response.

It’s important to note that these B and T cells are specific to the antigen at hand. If we call back to our “Love Island” metaphor, imagine that these B and T cells specifically have beef with just this one bombshell. If a different one walked into the villa, a different population of B and T cells would become active. This is because these cells have very specific antibodies and receptors, allowing them to be selective for a specific antigen.

After the beef is squashed and everyone in the villa makes up, memory B and T cells stick around. These guys never forget what happened and keep all the receipts, so when another pesky bombshell enters the villa, the islanders can quickly and effectively respond. Fun fact! This is why vaccines are so good at what they do. After teaching the immune system how to respond to an antigen, your body is ready to fight it when you are exposed later on.

Keep in mind- this is an incredibly simplified version of the immune response, and I only really addressed *some* of the key players. There are so many layers to this story that I will hopefully share in later posts!

Leave a comment

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!

Subscribe now

1. Train an undergrad or a high schooler

This is the first and most important thing on my bucket list. As those of you who have been reading my posts for a while know, I was trained by graduate students both in high school and undergrad. Without these important mentors and friends in my life, I certainly would not be anywhere close to where I am today. Therefore, it’s always been my goal to attempt to fill the very big shoes left before me and mentor someone from the next generation of young scientists.

2. Teach a course

This one is more of a challenge for me. I have limited teaching experience as of late, limited to TAing one course as an undergrad. While I personally don’t see myself teaching after graduate school, I think teaching a course would be an excellent opportunity to grow my skills as a communicator. My ideal course to teach would be some sort of science writing class. I took this as an undergrad, and it was the greatest experience!

3. Attend a training course

These courses happen all over the country, but popular ones are at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories and the Marine Biological Laboratories on Cape Cod. These courses are usually hands-on and focus on one specific topic or set of skills. Usually lasting a week, these courses are a great way to gain skills, network, and potentially see a new place. After attending a week-long course as an undergrad, I KNEW I would absolutely do this again as a graduate student.

4. Write a review article

Again, another challenge to grow as a science communicator (can you sense an overarching theme for why I’m doing a PhD?). Review articles are essentially a synthesis of prior research in a given field. In many cases, graduate students write these relatively early in their PhD since at this stage they are often gathering and organizing prior research to identify gaps for their own projects.

5. Give a “Lecture on Tap”

“Lectures on Tap” is a series here in NYC (and other cities) where academics give a lecture at a local bar. Usually, the topic is a bit funky and creative, making it more interesting and accessible to a general audience. I recently went to a talk on the “astronomy of astrology,” which drew me to the event not because I love stars, but because I am obsessed with being a Pisces and the way I blame any inconvenience on Mercury being retrograde. The event was so fun! I learned why Mercury goes retrograde and had a fun night with a friend in Brooklyn. So much so that I hope to see myself up on that stage one day.

6. Attend an international conference

While I’ve been to local and national conferences, I have never been to an international conference. I would LOVE to have the chance to network with scientists around the world. I also think this is an amazing opportunity to see who and what is out there.

So there you have it, six of my goals for my PhD! Putting this on Substack mainly so I hold myself accountable in trying to complete them. Maybe this list will even inspire some of you to try something new, and maybe out of your comfort zone, in whatever stage of life you’re in. Stick around for updates as I check these boxes!

Leave a comment

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!

Subscribe now

The day to day:

For my program, we were given lots of information. Talks about our course requirements, qualifying exams, and various resources available to us, such as therapy/ other mental health services, insurance, and other benefits.

I’ll be honest, you may feel overwhelmed. A lot of information is shared in a small amount of time. My advice would be to keep a notebook on hand to write down anything that you may want to reference later. I also recommend bringing a laptop or iPad, since you will probably be given links to courses or other resources.

The fun!

While a lot of this can feel like busy work, you will have a lot of fun! For me, this was the first time I knew nobody else in the room, probably since I started undergrad. While the social battery gets drained quickly, I really enjoyed meeting my classmates and chatting with them. With every person I spoke with, we were able to identify at least something we had in common (other than that we liked biomedical science and had researched in labs before joining the program).

Further, many programs plan activities that will allow you to meet your cohort, as well as explore the city where your program is located. My program organized happy hours, karaoke, and a cruise to view landmarks around Manhattan and Brooklyn! Although these are often not mandatory, I highly recommend attending so that you can continue meeting your classmates.

Q&A: the things I wanted to know before starting

1. What do I wear?

   1. While this question can be a little shallow, it was one of the main things my classmates asked in our group chat. My advice: wear a nicer, business casual outfit if you are taking headshots or a class photo at any point. Otherwise, wear what makes you comfortable. My program is in NYC, so I noticed that people generally try their best to wear a clean, put-together outfit, but this definitely varies by the location and the field of study.

2. Do I need to prepare anything beforehand?

   1. Yes! My program had a whole list of onboarding tasks to complete. Definitely do this in a timely manner so that you don’t have issues obtaining items such as ID cards or signing up for classes. Your program will give you details before you even set foot on campus.

3. Who are the key contacts and faculty members I should meet?

   a. During my orientation, we were assigned a “big sibling,” an older graduate student who is a good source of advice, and our pre-candidacy advisor, who will help us decide which labs to rotate in. Certainly, try to meet with these types of people if applicable!

New students: While my orientation may not be exactly like yours will be, hopefully, this article provided you with a little bit of an idea of what to expect!

Leave a comment

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!

Subscribe now

Madrid, Spain

My amazing week spent exploring Tenerife and Madrid has come to a close. I started my morning sipping a Nestea (which I think Europeans use to describe all iced tea, since not a single place served us Nestea brand) at the rooftop pool of our hotel. I soaked in the sun and took my last glimpses of Madrid, as we were off to the airport in just an hour.

The flight was anything but lucky. Called for random security checks and placed near every child on the flight, I was running on limited sleep and patience, but eventually, I made it home to New York.

Monday, August 18

Long Island, New York

I’m moving to NYC this week! This day was spent making the rounds to Home Goods and Target, where I’d get all of the new things that I needed for my new apartment in the city. My favorite purchase was my purple Nespresso <3

Tuesday, August 19

Long Island, New York

A morning hot yoga class, some last-minute stops for cleaning supplies and a kitchen garbage can, and packing and info sessions. This was the very last thing I needed to prep, then I was off to Manhattan (or so I thought…)

Wednesday, August 20

Long Island, New York

The day started with a bright and early wake-up call. We were off to the city! The car was packed to the brim with my clothes and anything I’d need for my apartment. My army of plants and my parents accompanied me while we hit the road at 7:30.

This is when things went a bit wrong.

“I’m here to move in,” I tell the security guard at my new building. My heart sinks as I hear the words Move-in. is. tomorrow.

OMG
I go back to the car and tell my parents the news, and we were back to Long Island.

My first major mistake in grad school was before I even got there. What I note to start on. Hanging my head in shame with a car still packed, I went home and spent the day working on onboarding tasks and triple-checking my email to make sure everything was set.

“Welcome home,” my brother said as he returned home from work. UGH

Thursday, August 21

New York, New York

Finally! I got the day right! I moved into my apartment quickly and seamlessly. It took some time to build my bed, but I got it done with the help of my mom! I met my roommate, who seems super cool, and got any last-minute things that I needed for my apartment. I’m feeling comfortable and ready to start this next chapter!

Some other stops included a cute cafe for lunch- maybe my next study spot?? - and the world’s most crowded Trader Joes, where the line weaved in and out of the aisles of the ENTIRE store.

Friday, August 22 - Sunday, August 24

New York, New York

Starting to get acquainted with the neighborhood and with my new school. These days consist of picking up ID cards, shopping for last-minute items, and trying lots of new foods.

We checked out Bengal Tiger, and had the most amazing 3-course meal. Butter chicken and garlic naan made for the most amazing inaugural meal out as a NYC resident.

Some highlights included a tasty lunch at the H-Mart food hall, a walk along the High Line and exploring Chelsea Market, and trying out some local yoga studios!

So there you have it, my first week (ish) living in NYC!

Hi, I’m Isabella!

I’m a Ph.D. student passionate about science communication and mentoring younger scientists. I post on My Ph.Diary. on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sharing my lab experiences, advice on navigating research, and any biological topics that pique my curiosity. Subscribe below to stay updated!