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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 :)

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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!

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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!

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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!

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!

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Fall Semester

During the fall semester, things felt relatively normal. At the start, I was building off of momentum from the summer before. I was breeding the fish I would need for my last big experiment (I worked in a lab that studies zebrafish). I had help from some younger undergrads who were ready to help genotype the fish I needed, and I had a manageable course schedule, so I knew I could spend lots of time in the lab.

However, my first major setback was ahead.

As an undergrad, I worked with zebrafish that were Hypothyroid, meaning their thyroid follicles were ablated, so they no longer produced this hormone. These fish were maintained on a diet that was slightly different from their Euthyroid counterparts to avoid them being fed any supplemental thyroid hormone. With about 5 or 6 tanks full of fish on my rack, I noticed one day that they were being fed the incorrect food.

PANIC. OH MY GOD.

I had stood in the fish room feeling a little queasy. Maybe it was because I was wearing a sweater, and it was 70 degrees in there, but in all honesty, it was probably because I had never made a mistake this bad. So, I went to my advisor, who wasn’t mad, but told me we can’t use any of those fish. Back to square one. Rebreed, wait, measure, and finally complete the experiment when the fish are large enough (rip 💀)

In the meantime, the fall semester was a productive time of writing and learning. I started the introduction of my thesis, which required reading, writing, and more reading. Zotero became my best friend and was quite helpful with keeping all of my citations organized. I also began to make the figures. I learned how to use Adobe Illustrator, which I still have a love-hate relationship with to this day (I never ever pick the right arrow when I’m moving stuff around, UGH), and began making some graphics in BioRender, which I LOVE using.

Overall, the fall was a semester of learning and experimenting, which I enjoyed regardless of some of the setbacks I faced.

Spring Semester

The spring semester was really where things picked up. Those fish I mentioned before were finally large enough, so I spent many days and nights in the lab dealing with them. About 100 fish were cleared and stained, allowing me to visualize their bones and cartilage. Their pectoral fins were dissected and imaged, and those images were analyzed, as different bones in the pectoral fin were measured for their length and shape. Afternoons were spent in the scope room with the occasional break to walk around the Chestnut Hill Reservoir when my eyes and head began to ache, and nights were spent in the library working on round after round of edits.

Editing was much more taxing than writing. Sentences were constantly rearranged, moved, deleted, and added. With every command+Z, I became more frustrated. Although I didn’t recognize it at the time, this was what it took to learn how to write.

Not many Biology majors at Boston College decide to write a thesis. Out of a few hundred people in the major, only 7 of us decided to take on this endeavor. Therefore, I found company in other lab mates who were working on papers, or my roommate who was writing a thesis within the Political Science Department. You wouldn’t believe what a help it was to have another person to share my struggles with.

So, many nights in the library, lots of red text in Google Docs, many purchases from the library vending machine, and too many late-night cans of Diet Coke later, I clicked the submit button once my PI gave me the okay. A grad student in my lab had given me a shooter of rum to drink in celebration, but I went on a walk and probably watched an episode of South Park instead.

In Summary

While it was long and hard, my senior year and my undergraduate career were truly made complete by this experience. I had created something from scratch. The copy that I had printed myself was a physical manifestation of my effort, with pages filled with my own images taken at the microscope, diagrams drawn by me, and an acknowledgements page that thanked my friends, family, and lab mates. If you’re ever given the opportunity to take on a project like this, I HIGHLY recommend it. When you look back on the experience even a few years down the road, you won’t regret it for a second.

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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!

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So, how did I unlock the Hidden Curriculum?

To be honest, it was all luck. I don't come from a family of doctors or scientists, and I certainly don’t have any family members with advanced degrees. I happened to be introduced to scientific research through a program at my high school. All of us students were tasked with finding summer research opportunities by cold emailing. Then, during the school year, we were to write about our research projects, often presenting our work at local or regional science fairs.

The tool kit I developed through this program was small but mighty. I learned a simple formula for cold emailing, I was exposed to a lab environment, and I began working with a graduate student who mentored me about research, undergraduate admissions, and where I should apply to school. (Fun fact: If I didn’t work with my graduate student, I probably wouldn’t have gone to Boston College; she is a fellow Eagle and convinced me to apply there!) At the time, I didn’t understand how valuable this was.

A new passion for mentoring and spreading the word

I didn’t know that the skills I learned as a high schooler were “hidden” before I got to college. However, this quickly became apparent. As I began my search for a lab to complete my undergraduate research, I realized that many of my peers didn’t know how to navigate this process. “Hidden Curriculum” often disproportionately impacts students who are from underrepresented communities or are first-generation students. Learning about this filled me with gratitude for my previous experiences and fueled my passion for mentoring and sharing what I’ve learned with others.

Therefore, when I arrived at BC, I wanted to (at least attempt) to fill the shoes of the graduate student who spent her summers showing a confused high school student the ropes. I first became a volunteer with Big Brother Big Sister of Eastern Massachusetts, and have been a friend and mentor to a student from the greater Boston area for the past 6 years! Frankly, this was not an experience I initially planned to take part in, but I’m so glad I did, as I genuinely think this has shaped how I plan to spend my time in graduate school (I can’t wait to have an undergrad researcher work on my project one day!!).

Further, I took on more leadership in my undergraduate lab. I mentored multiple students and had them take part in my thesis research. I trained them on various techniques in the lab, allowed them to learn about the process of writing a manuscript, presenting in a lab meeting, and creating posters. I was also often a source for them to ask for advice about things like choosing courses or where to apply for post-grad jobs. This further fueled my passion for science outreach and mentoring.

Making research equitable

Therefore, I feel lucky every day that I had the information that I did when starting out. In an effort to make science less intimidating and more accessible, I plan to keep my blog completely free!

Frederick Hafferty describes the hidden curriculum as “‘understandings,’ customs, rituals, and taken-for-granted aspects of what goes on in the life-space we call medical education”

So, I plan to share it all- the customs of the lab and the expectations for students at all stages, the information about graduate school applications that you only learn from the students who have done it themselves, and simply just what life in the lab is like, since you really don’t know until you see or hear about it yourself. I’m not on Substack to make writing my newest side gig or to gain lots of followers. I’m simply here to share what I know in the hopes that even one young scientist reads my work and thinks that they, too, can do this!

Thank you for being here and for reading my work! It’s the community on Substack that keeps me motivated to share my story. If you're a scientist, new or more experienced, or someone just interested in learning about what it’s like, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

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This post was written in collaboration with Andrea Chiarelli - check out his piece on Humble Inquiry in his newsletter! andreachiarelli.substack.com/p/the-power-of-not-knowing

A few weeks ago, Andrea reached out about co-writing something on Humble Inquiry. I’ll admit, I had to look it up. But after a quick Google and a read through the article he sent me (link here), I realized I’ve both experienced it as a trainee and actively use it when mentoring junior scientists.

In essence, Humble Inquiry is about asking instead of telling. It helps people find their own answers rather than having solutions handed to them. And it builds trust in the process! When we ask with genuine curiosity, we shift from directing others to working alongside them.

If you’re curious to learn more, Andrea’s post is a great place to start. Keep reading to find out about my own experience with this powerful approach.

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As a mentee:

When I first started working in the lab full time, I quickly noticed that one of the things I struggled with the most was asking meaningful questions. It seemed that it came to my more senior lab mates so easily. “How can they think of these so easily?” I would think. In hindsight, I realized that asking curious questions takes time.

My lab mates often practiced Humble Inquiry without even knowing it. If I presented them with confusing data, they would always ask me a series of questions:

How did you do this experiment?

What were the steps?

What were you initially expecting?

What do you think went wrong?

Having such conversations with my lab mates taught me to ask myself such questions when reviewing new data or working through trouble with a protocol. Further, I became more confident and began asking questions in lab meetings or working with others to troubleshoot their projects just as my more senior lab mates did.

As a mentor:

As a mentor, I’ve implemented multiple aspects of Humble Inquiry. First, I actively listen to my mentees and try to form a friendly relationship with them. I acknowledge their thoughts and even take time to ask them follow-up questions when relevant. This has shifted the relationship from teacher and student to teammates. I find that this has allowed my mentees to trust me more, leading them to open up and share challenges and hardships that they face.

Further, I ask them curiosity-driven questions when they are having trouble figuring out a problem. This typically occurs when we work on writing personal statements or applications for summer programs. Rather than telling my mentees what to write about or what experiences to highlight, I ask them a few questions:

What kind of story do you want to tell here?

What experiences do you think are best to talk about?

In what way will you stand out as a member of this program?

Often, this questioning has led my mentees to write about something they may not have thought of upon writing their first draft. I have found that utilizing Humble Inquiry in this setting makes my mentees engage with the prompt they are trying to answer more creatively.

As researchers, we ask questions for a living. But reflecting on what Humble Inquiry means to me revealed the importance of asking questions even in our everyday interactions. When we show interest in the work of others, we all work better as a team. Further, we learn hands-on by solving problems instead of quickly receiving an answer.

Thank you for reading about my experiences with Humble Inquiry. Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments. Share about how you engage with this process in your day-to-day in the comments!

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Before the application deadline:

Even in the planning phase, I felt pressure from social media. Those with large followings on Instagram would often post PhD application timelines, tips for cold emailing, and advice on writing personal statements. While a lot of this content was really helpful, I felt pressure to apply on the same timeline as others (who were often VERY ahead of the game). My advice is this: when you see content online about applications, take what you need and leave what you don’t. That even goes for when you read articles on my Substack. I invite you to take only the advice that benefits you. While filtering content in this can be difficult, I advise you to compare all of your sources. Ask friends and labmates who were successful what they did, consult counselors at your university, and ask your advisor for advice. Then, when you have a strong foundation in how to execute the admission cycle, you can look at the information online more critically.

Further, I think that social media can make us feel left behind. Others’ posts on LinkedIn about internships, or people talking about the CV and stats that got them into grad school. This leaves a lot of opportunities for you to compare yourself to others. My advice: stay away from this at all costs. Don’t let others make you feel less prepared for graduate school. At the end of the day, there is only one version of you applying. Prioritize the things that make you feel excited rather than fitting in the same mold as others.

As you await interview invites

I’m going to be honest, this is the worst part. Many people who have already applied to grad school will tell you to stay off GradCafe and Reddit. When you apply to PhD programs, they often will send interview invites before rejection letters, so if you don’t get an interview, you are most likely not getting in. Therefore, many applicants will post to these sites when they get an interview invite, allowing you to know where you stand. Late night at 2 or 3 am, when you really want to know if you’ve gotten rejected from anywhere and are losing sleep from the stress, going on these sites can be really tempting. Trust me, I fell for it. Now I’m here to tell you, STAY AWAY AT ALL COSTS. It’s truly a rabbit hole you don’t want to fall into, as it will only make your application experience more stressful.

During interviews:

Congratulations! You’ve gotten some interview invites, charge that social battery, and buckle up for some loooooong weekends. While interviewing was so fun (I got to do things like go to the top of the Empire State Building and complete an escape room), it was really tiring. Oftentimes, social media played a pretty big role in how fellow interviewees networked during these weekends. You’ll be asked for your Instagram or later receive a connection on LinkedIn. Although I am a little less active on these apps than others, I actually really liked this. It was nice to connect with people from all over the country and those who will potentially be in my cohort. I found myself especially embracing this when meeting people also interested in attending school in NYC, which was where I had my sights set throughout the application process. I actually still keep in touch with some people I met during interviews who are going to different schools in the NYC area.

As acceptances roll out:

People posting about where they are going when you may be on a waitlist or trying to decide where you want to attend, will be the source of anxiety at this point. And with this, my advice is the same as before. DO NOT COMPARE YOURSELF! In a way, keep your head down and continue to ask yourself about what YOU want out of graduate school. Don’t let others’ commitment to a school sway you to go there if you aren’t 100% sure it’s what you want too. Personally, I was between two schools- one that had a very high level of prestige, but wasn’t the best choice for my mental health and personal life, and the other, which checked all the boxes of what I wanted in a program, but was ranked slightly lower. While many people might disagree, I made the decision to choose the latter. I felt that an unhappy grad student wouldn’t be a productive one. While I was confident in my choice, and still am, I will admit it was hard not to second-guess my choice as I saw others posting about how they are going to that more prestigious school. On the flip side, it was really exciting seeing where some of the people I met are going to school, and I hope that I can connect with many of them again in the future.

Overall

In many aspects of our lives, it’s hard not to compare ourselves to others. Maybe you wish you traveled as much as the kids you went to college with, or are eating out as much as your peers who may make more money than you post-grad. I’m here to urge you to treat your application process as one of those things that you don’t compare to that of others. You are your own person, and a PhD is quite a long time. So, focusing on the things that YOU value will help make this decision and this process in general a little less stressful.

Sound off in the comments with any ideas/ questions!

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This past spring, I joined a program that allowed me to mentor two young female scientists via Zoom. I loved guiding these students and giving them information that I wish I had as a high schooler. I not only enjoyed this experience, but learned A LOT.

Let me set the scene:

I mentored two students virtually, while the format was the same, these two experiences were vastly different.

One student is a high schooler in Ohio, her major goal was to get into a summer research program or join a lab as a summer student. This was a relief to me, as I was able to teach from experience, drawing on the summer days that I spent in a lab in NYC as a high schooler. I was able to help her edit applications, guide her through a meeting with a PI for the first time, and help her prep for her interview.

The second student was from Spain, gearing up to start university. Contrasting with the previous student, I had to do a lot of learning to be a good mentor to her. At the start of our mentoring season, I did a lot of learning about the structure of university in Spain, which differs a lot from the US in the sense that students have a much more specific and rigid course of study, rather than following a liberal arts- like structure where students study all areas.

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How did I go about mentoring?

If my Jesuit college education taught me ANYTHING, it is the value of setting goals and reflecting on your progress. So that’s exactly what I started with. I had asked each student what kind of goals they had for the mentoring season and what exactly they wanted from me. This allowed me to write a curriculum of sorts for each of the girls. As I mentioned previously, one student wanted help with various applications, so we spent a lot of time editing her writing (which was so fun for me as a former English major). The second student really wanted to prepare for college, so we practiced reading scientific papers and summarizing them, often having mini journal clubs. She also really wanted to freshen up her CV and discuss which major she should choose, so we had chats about that as well.

Each session followed a similar blueprint: I’d ask them what they wanted to accomplish, discuss the material we chose the week prior, and then finish up with any questions that they had for me. I found that this worked really well!

So what did I learned from this experience?

(In no particular order)

1. Your students’ victories will be just as exciting (if not more) for you as they were for them.

I vividly remember when my student told me that she had joined a lab for the summer. I excitedly told her about my experiences as a high schooler in the lab, and how much I had learned in such a short time. In hindsight, I think my enthusiasm may have shocked her a bit. I also recall the same student getting into one of the other programs that she applied to. For this one, she’ll have to give a short talk on some of her previous research, which I can’t wait to help her prepare for!

2. You don’t have to have all the answers.

This was especially relevant with my student from Spain. Oftentimes, she was the one teaching me. Which is totally okay!! Giving her the space to explain to me what university in Spain is like gave me the tools that I needed to guide her with whatever expertise I thought I had. While I was oftentimes a little weary about giving her advice in terms of education in career as I have not experienced research in Europe, I was able to give her knowledge relevant to topics that I knew well, or speak from my own experience, although it was different from what her’s will be.

3. Being their friend is just as important as being “productive.”

A simple conversation, getting to know someone, is just as important as doing something productive like drafting an email or editing an essay. I found that sessions where my mentee and I just chatted opened up questions that she may not have even thought of initially. I recall a time just talking about summers in a lab, and my student realized that she was curious about how different labs may run their lab meeting. This was a question that I never thought she’d have, but I’m glad we discovered it, so she was able to feel more prepared to start her summer research.

4. Be adaptable, technical difficulties can happen

Especially with Zoom, be prepared to meet on a different platform, or not be able to share your screen in the way you thought you could. Technical difficulties are a part of everyday life, and they are fine, especially when you have a plan B. Mentoring a student abroad was even more difficult, as spotty wifi often made it difficult to hear/ see one another. At times, we had to utilize the chat feature on Google Meet to have a conversation. While it’s not perfect, we make it work!

5. Don’t bulldoze, let your mentee lead the way.

While it’s easy to come up with detailed and structured plans, let your mentee lead the conversation at times. I found that students participating in these programs often have very clear goals going in, so give them the space to share what they are thinking about.

Overall…

I really enjoyed this program! So much so that I’ve volunteered to take three students on during the summer. I cannot wait to see what’s in store, as I have students at lots of points in their education from different areas of the US and abroad!

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For those who are new to the world of scientific conferences, let me set the scene. From the outside, the McCormick Center looks like any other building. Other than the banner hung by the entrance and the line of Ubers dropping off scientists, you wouldn't suspect that anything out of the ordinary is happening.

When you walk in, however, is where the awe hits. First, there are lots of people everywhere. And if seeing all of the people wandering about isn’t enough to put the number of people there into perspective, take a look at the Plenary Hall. There are so many chairs. I simply could not imagine the man-power required to set up so many. Then, you can wander around the Exhibit Hall. Booths from any biotech company you can think of. And it’s not like your high school cub fair. These booths are intense. Lines of people wait for freshly-baked cookies or craft lattes. One even printed my face on a marshmallow, all to get my email address, hoping I’d buy their product. Lastly, a glance at the AACR app will show you the sheer number of talks happening at once, with each room filled with a decent number of people. Although the AACR is the American Association of Cancer Research, this conference was filled with scientists from across the globe! Making it the place to network and learn from others. As one of the younger scientists at the meeting, here’s what I learned (in no particular order):

1. This meeting is great if you need ideas and inspiration. Once again, this is because of the volume of science happening over the 6 days of AACR. If you need to learn about a topic outside of what you normally work on or want to fill a gap in your knowledge, the Major and Mini symposiums are the way to go. Major symposiums usually have 3 longer talks, while mini symposiums have many more, shorter talks. I found that both sessions allowed me to learn about novel scientific topics from PIs, post-docs, and students from institutions across the globe. I personally came to the conference to present my poster, but also to decide what topics to pursue in graduate school. As a cancer signaling person, learning about the tumor microenvironment, metastasis, and systems biology was especially interesting and new!

2. If you are just starting out, the poster sessions may not be the place to prioritize your time. I personally found the poster sessions to be incredibly overwhelming. With no specific topic in mind, I found it hard to know where to go, while my lab mates who had specific techniques that they wanted to learn found it easy to meet people and network. I would suggest searching a few keywords that interest you and stopping by a few posters a day if you’d like, but certainly use the majority of your time elsewhere.

3. AACR was unique in the sense that there was a large industry presence there. I had only really been to very academic conferences in the past. This is useful if you want to be in the know about what industry is doing right now, or are looking for a job, but probably wouldn’t be too helpful for a basic scientist.

4. If this meeting taught me anything, it is that there are SO MANY jobs related to cancer research. This conference had academic scientists, biotech researchers, sales representatives, investors and VCs, nonprofits, science outreach, educators, and science communicators. It was super inspiring and motivating to see that my degree can be used in such a variety of ways. As a student interested in more “non-traditional” careers for PhD-level scientists, seeing all that was out there was really eye-opening.

5. You can expand on what you know, but also notice what you don’t. This conference showed me LOTS of gaps in my knowledge. This has really allowed me to set some goals for the summer before my PhD. I’ve learned even more about lots of accessible tools, such as cBioPortal and the DepMap, both of which I hope to master this summer. I’ve also learned that I have a pretty limited understanding of the immune system, so I am planning to learn more about that as well.

6. The Exhibit Hall is more than knick-knacks. While pens and stuffed animals are fun, the Exhibit Hall can actually be helpful. If you need a new kit for a certain technique or are looking to outsource something like sequencing or generation of organoids, you may find some helpful information. Further, I found it super cool to see what kind of technologies and services were out there, many of which could optimize my day-to-day in the lab! (Also, if you talk to the right reps, you may snag an invite to a rooftop party - some of which have an open bar and snacks)

Overall, would I go again? I would say yes, but definitely not for a while. I think this conference is great for later-stage PhD Students and post-docs who are looking for next steps or need inspiration to push them through the last bit of their projects, but it may be overwhelming for someone just starting out (me!). I had the most fun in Chicago and got lots of enjoyment and inspiration at a time when things are a bit stressful for scientists. See you soon, AACR, maybe in San Diego next time???

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Disclaimer: You may not be able to start your Junk Journal right after you finish reading, liking, and commenting on my post. You will have to spend a little time hoarding some junk (anything from plane tickets to maps from museums to cards from friends).

Gathering snip-its of my life, laying them on my bed, and reading through the letters from others and myself turned my entire day around. My thinking shifted from the negative, stuck on what is hard, annoying, and frustrating about my life, to the positive. The Junk Journal quickly became a physical manifestation of all of the milestones and memories that I forget to remind myself of. I got to walk through the confusion of post-grad life, to the achievement of getting into graduate school. Starting this journal was a great reminder of how far I’ve come in just two short years.

While I felt unproductive and unmotivated today, I was reminded that since graduating from college, I:

• Took two international trips, where I got to visit FOUR countries

• Applied to graduate school and got in!

• Worked two years at my first job (Which came with lots of interesting side quests)

• Took multiple day trips throughout New England

• Traveled to California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Colorado to visit friends and family

• And even more (I couldn’t keep junk from every experience).

So what’s the Science Behind the mood-boosting power of the Junk Journal?

Crafting in general has been shown to boost public well-being, and even alleviate various mental health conditions. I completely agree, as this casual crafting allowed me to keep my mind and my hands busy while staying away from my phone and doom scrolling (which I spend way too much time doing these days). Even just the few hours that I spent unplugged to start my journal have been enough to keep me wanting more. I’ll definitely be saving more scraps so that I can return to my Junk Journal in the future.

I’ve also learned that this type of journaling, in particular, is great for those who struggle with perfectionism (insert hand-raising emoji here). This is because junk journaling allows for creative exploration without judgment. There’s no right or wrong in a Junk Journal- it’s simply a presentation of the way your brain organizes thoughts and memories. I personally organize my pages by the aesthetics/ color of each piece of junk, but some may want to organize chronologically, or completely randomly.

So, next time you’re out and about, consider keeping that business card you were handed, or grab a free sticker at a store or coffee shop. You never know, you might have just stumbled upon your new favorite hobby.

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Deciding to double major in English and Biology was a somewhat impulsive decision for me. After receiving the grade on my first general chemistry exam (a show-stopping 40% lol), I decided I needed a backup plan. I’m good at writing, I like to read British literature, and I think I can analyze a poem. An English major it was! And although the decision was (partly) driven by fear, it was the best one I ever made.

Further, having a little bit of a change of scenery made school more interesting. Yes, biology and physics are cool, but I truly enjoyed the opportunity to be creative. For a few hours a week, I got to read a novel and immerse myself in a completely different world, or I even got to write stories about my life experiences. I learned to better analyze the world around me and think critically.

Scientists will always need science courses. I’m not telling you to ditch biochem I for studies in poetry. But I am saying that you should try your best to make room for both.

A scientist can make the most amazing discovery, but will it really get anywhere if nobody hears it? The answer is probably no. Communicating science drives collaboration and funding, inspires others and gives them new ideas to implement in their own research, and it allows the public to get a glimpse at what’s happening in the lab. Writing is also an essential part of the scientific process, as publishing your work in scientific journals is the most effective way of getting it out into the world. Overall, communicating science drives scientific growth, so as early as you can, get good at it!

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So here’s my advice: learn how to write a compelling story. Learn how to make slides that have a clear flow and are accessible to all scientists (and even the general public). Learn to use metaphor and imagery to make your talks interesting and engaging. Although I am a scientist, I learned how to do these things in an English class, and if you aren’t currently a student, you can still find ways to hone these skills. Writing, much like science, is a process; it takes practice, trial and error, and revision. So, no matter who you are and what you study, pick up a pen. Write a story, whether it be about yourself, someone you know, a cool paper you read, or an idea you have. Just. Practice. Writing.

The best part of this is, you might even get a non-scientist excited about your work.

It’s become increasingly clear that in the United States, there’s a huge gap between scientists and the general public. While we benefit from scientific discovery every day- whether it be from the food on our plates, the medicine that heals us, or the understanding of the environment around us, many people don’t understand the actual research happening behind the scenes. To be clear, it’s not because the general public isn’t smart or intelligent- they just aren’t scientists. So, it’s our responsibility to venture out from behind the bench. Write about your science, or your everyday experience in the lab, talk to others about your work, and get them excited about it. However, the most important thing to keep in mind is. Make it accessible and meet your audience members where they are.

Happy Writing :)