Interview by Charlie Schmidt

Q: What drew you to Harvard and MCB?

A: I guess that would have to be Craig Hunter. When I did my doctorate I was working on developmental biology and oogenesis using the sea urchin as a model system. I wanted to continue doing the same research but with a different model organism. I had seen several papers that the Hunter lab had published on its work with C. elegans; I thought the work was solid, so I went to the Hunter lab website and saw a picture of his research group with everyone outside. It may sound silly, but that’s what you look for—people just looked friendly. So, I went to a meeting where he was scheduled to speak, he gave a really interesting talk, and I handed him my curriculum vitae. He invited me to come for an interview and shortly thereafter gave me a job.

Q: How does your actual experience here at MCB and Harvard compare to your expectations?

A: It was initially Craig who attracted me to interview, but it was my interactions with others in the lab that really nailed down for me that this is where I want to be. As for Harvard itself—that was sort of an afterthought. This just happened to be where the lab was located. And all of a sudden, I was at Harvard and it was a strange and interesting adjustment.

Q: How so?

A: I’m not used to working at a place that’s a tourist attraction! In the morning when I commute in, I think, “Wow, this place has a long history.” And that feels good. I haven’t rubbed the foot on the John Harvard statue for luck yet. I’m waiting for something big; I’m going to have to do that someday.

And there’s one more thing, and that’s my coworkers. There’s a definite level of professionalism here that is amazing. Also just a general enthusiasm. Was that unexpected? Partially it was, I suppose. It’s the degree of the enthusiasm: people really enjoy being here. We have postdocs, we have grad students, we have undergrads and technicians, but there’s no hierarchy based on that. Everyone is just helping everyone else learn, and that’s really cool.

Q: What’s the focus of your own research?

A: I’m looking at translational control during oogenesis in C. elegans. Many maternal mRNAs are present but translationally repressed during oogenisis. These mRNAs are important for setting up specification events later. I’m taking a look at those repression mechanisms.

Q: What excites you about your work and the direction of your research?

A: Switching gears to a different organism is really exciting—C. elegans has given me a new tool box. I’m still learning how to use it. I’ve never worked on an organism that has so many searchable databases. Also, the field of RNAi (a major focus of Craig Hunter’s research) is rapidly expanding. This is another reason I was attracted to the Hunter lab: RNAi is a somewhat new, very powerful technology that allows you to address numerous developmental biology questions. I really like the fact that Craig isn’t just an RNAi jockey—some people hop onto a new technology and have that technology drive the science, and he doesn’t do that.

And Harvard is fabulous because of the resources available. For instance, if I’m interested in isolating proteins and getting peptide sequences done, they can do that here. I run my DNA sequence reactions in the MCB building across the street—it’s great because it’s all set up so well, things are doable here.

Q: Where do you want to go with this after you leave Harvard?

A: That’s the million-dollar question. What am I going to be when I grow up? It’s hard to predict where you might end up. It takes a few things to be successful here: some of that is luck; if your project works and you get publications you can procure your own funding. Sure, it would be great to go on to an academic position; that’s what I’m thinking now, but they’re competitive. So, yes, I guess I’d like to teach here. But if you enjoy what you do, if you do it well, and if you’re not uptight or nervous about it and it flows along, then things just work themselves out. I’d like to go on to an academic position, which may or may not happen. If it doesn’t, that’s fine.

A: I feel like I’m establishing relationships with people who could definitely help to propel me in whatever I want to pursue. People here aren’t trying to mold you to do something. Sometimes in an academic setting you can work for someone who wants you to be just like them. Here, I’ve seen coworkers go on to do lots of different things: consulting, biotech, academic science. I don’t feel like there’s a bias here for any of that, which is nice. I feel like you’d get support in whatever you want to do; just as long as you work hard and gain some respect.

Q: Is there anything about Harvard that you find frustrating or that you would change if you could?

A: Initially, there’s a feeling of anonymity. And there are other people here who speak about this, so it’s not just me! Harvard is huge, it’s sprawling, it’s hard to get things established—your computer hooked up, getting your ID number. Without your number you can’t do anything. Thankfully, most of this is settled your first couple of weeks here. 

Q: What’s a typical day like for you?

A: I commute in on public transportation, I get my fruit from the fruit guy, I get a cup of coffee, I’m here by 9:00, and I start doing my research. I meet with Craig about once a week, but our lab also has a journal club meeting once a week and a lab meeting every week. So, Craig is very, very busy, but we still meet three times a week for these important things, which is attractive to me. I’m at my lab bench most of the day, but it’s so easy here—there’s a food truck outside, the window is open, you get fresh air; it’s unbelievable! It’s those little things that really count. You make your own schedule, so you have to be disciplined, but I don’t think about it in that respect. You know you’re enjoying something when you’re not watching the clock.

Q: What advice would you have for someone just beginning studies at MCB?

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