🎓 Dr. Shivalee D’s Post

🎓 Reflecting on the Journey Beyond the PhD On April 18th, 2024, I had the privilege to join a thought-provoking Round Table discussion at the 10th McBiology Symposium, themed "A Decade building Science." Alongside esteemed former PhD colleagues, we delved into diverse trajectories post-PhD, sharing insights and experiences with an engaged audience primarily composed of current PhD students. My personal journey, which commenced in 2014 and culminated in the completion of my PhD in 2018, took an unexpected turn when I assumed the role of Head of Flow Cytometry Core Facility while wrapping up my doctoral studies. This transition marked a pivotal moment for me, affirming my belief that sometimes the most fulfilling paths diverge from the expected. During the round table, we candidly explored the realities behind and after each PhD, shedding light on the varied support systems provided by the program and the institution to navigate life post-graduation. Participating in this dialogue was an enriching experience, characterized by depth, honesty, humor, moments of darkness, and glimmers of optimism. Each narrative shared reinforced the understanding that while every PhD journey is unique, there exists a common thread of shared challenges and triumphs that unite us. My key takeaway from this enlightening discussion is a simple yet profound message: the PhD journey is not merely a checkpoint but a transformative experience that shapes us both professionally and personally. It's a reminder that education and science extend far beyond the confines of academia, enriching our lives with endless possibilities. In closing, I invite you to embrace your journey with the spirit of the Rolling Stones' timeless wisdom: "You can't always get what you want But if you try sometimes, well, you just might find You get what you need." #McBiologySymposium #PhDJourney #CareerReflections #LifeAfterPhD #ScienceCommunity

Today is National Science Appreciation Day! Let's take a moment to acknowledge the incredible benefits that science has brought to our lives. From medicine to technology, science has transformed the quality of life for so many people on our planet. It has unleashed human potential and improved human outcomes in countless ways. Let's celebrate the hard work and dedication of all the scientists who have made this possible. Check out the link below to learn more about National Science Appreciation Day. #NationalScienceAppreciationDay #ScienceBenefits #GratefulForScience

0.1 Why should you do a PhD? In my early days as a PhD student, someone once asked me, “Why would you endure the challenges of research?” Since 2018, those questions have stayed with me, and I've come to realize that science is all about learning to fail and to get back up. It’s not about motivation but about dedication and discipline. A PhD is more than just a degree; it’s a way of life, a commitment that shapes you, breaks you, and teaches you to rebuild. You learn to tackle problems others shy away from, knowing your work isn’t here to please everyone. It’s a long road, but if you can keep your head up through the uncertainty, it’s one of the most enriching experiences you’ll ever have. 0.2 Be Well-Surrounded Research can feel inhumane at times, but the people around me made all the difference. I’ve been lucky to have had incredible support, especially from my mentors. Alain, you showed me that your drive for science is still strong—I’m grateful to have learned under your guidance. Pierre, thank you for your consistency and for bringing me into your lab; I’ve learned so much about mass spectrometry from you. And to Roshan, your resilience is unmatched. Even though my PhD journey began under challenging conditions, I found ways to make it work. Teaching over 500 undergraduates and starting ventures like Speak Up Studio and Pitch Practice helped me grow and face the financial difficulties my family experienced with a sense of purpose and problem-solving. 0.3 Importance of Keeping Basic Science Alive Back in 2016, reading The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee sparked my interest in understanding cancer. This curiosity evolved as I studied at IRIC, transforming into a genuine drive to explore the foundational questions of life. Basic science is essential for understanding how things work under normal conditions, which is crucial before we ask how they work—or don’t work—in diseases. I hope future scientists hold on to this curiosity, as discovery only reveals more unknowns. In a way, my thesis represents this value; combining knowledge from vesicle development and RNA research, basic science helped rapidly address the global pandemic crisis in 2020.

Telling my scientific story in front of 100+ PhD students at this year’s MGC workshop was guaranteed to be fun 🤩 I cannot think of a better audience than a room full of young, talented scientists, learning how to perform research of their own and shaping themselves as the leaders of tomorrow! I still consider my PhD years one of the most exciting and transformative times in my own career. Beyond presenting our work on individual and forensic (epi)genomics, and how we are unraveling novel biological uniqueness, we reflected on important questions: - What drives you to do #research? - How can you cause #impact with your work? - What does it take to thrive in #academia? Among others, I hope to have convinced them that: 🌟 It is important to find one’s intrinsic motivation to research, to make the journey as much productive and enjoyable as possible. 🌟 Meaningful questions for impactful science always stem from society. Connect with the right and diverse stakeholders. 🌟 Plan ahead but stay flexible! Follow your passion, your gut feeling and allow yourself to fail and be wrong. 🌟 Today’s research is so much more than performing experiments and analyzing data. Strong transferable skills will make you stand out. 🌟 While PhD is a lonely road, walking it in the right ecosystem, surrounded by peers and mentors, is the key to success. Many thanks to the organizing committee, and particularly Dion Zandstra, for the opportunity to deliver this #keynote speech. *** The Medical Genetics Center South-West Netherlands (MGC) research school unites PhD students and other researchers from Erasmus MC and Leiden University Medical Center, to consolidate and strengthen the knowledge and research qualities among the involved institutes, with the overall goal to increase the quality of life. #PhDworkshop #MGC #ErasmusMC #LUMC #PhDtraining

American Association of Physicists in Medicine Webinar | Medical Physics Research Mentorship and Expanding Global Opportunities: From Insights to Impact This is a good webinar especially for us Early career Medical physicists. Tell a colleague to tell a colleague to register for this exciting Webinar. #medicalphysics #research #mentorship #researchopportunity

I'm incredibly thrilled to share that I have officially joined the ISCB - International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) as a Professional Member! This achievement is a significant milestone in my career and underscores my dedication to advancing the fields of computational biology, cancer genomics, and precision medicine. The ISCB - International Society for Computational Biology is a prestigious global organization that connects scientists, researchers, and professionals who are passionate about using computational methods to solve some of the most challenging biological problems of our time. Becoming part of this community not only allows me to contribute my expertise but also gives me the invaluable opportunity to collaborate with and learn from some of the brightest minds in computational and systems biology worldwide. The rapid progress we are seeing in computational biology today is nothing short of extraordinary. From decoding the complexities of cancer to understanding intricate biological networks, computational tools are revolutionizing our approach to science and medicine. As a professional member of ISCB, I am eager to be on the forefront of these innovations, contributing to research that will push the boundaries of our knowledge and lead to impactful scientific discoveries. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all my mentors, colleagues, peers, the amazing teams I've had the pleasure of working with, and RareCan for their unwavering support and encouragement. Your support, insights, and encouragement have been instrumental in helping me reach this milestone. This is just the beginning—I'm looking forward to the collaborations, knowledge sharing, and groundbreaking research that lies ahead. Together, let's shape the future of computational biology, precision medicine, and beyond. Here's to pushing the boundaries of science, one discovery at a time! #ISCB #ComputationalBiology #ProfessionalMembership #CancerGenomics #Bioinformatics #PrecisionMedicine #ScientificCommunity #Innovation #Collaboration #Gratitude #ExcitedForTheFuture #ResearchAdvancements #GlobalCommunity #CareerMilestone #ScientificDiscovery #PioneeringScience

🎓✨Faculty of Small Liberal Arts Colleges Across All Disciplines are uniquely positioned to make a profound impact on the futures of our graduate students, providing them with the guidance and opportunities to excel in their chosen fields. Here’s how we can make a difference: Broaden Awareness: Actively seek out and share information about grants and awards accessible to graduates from various disciplines, not just those traditionally associated with our fields of expertise. Mentorship Matters: Offer personalized mentorship to students, guiding them through the application process, from proposal writing to presentation skills. Cross-Disciplinary Support: Collaborate with colleagues from different departments to create a supportive ecosystem for all students, ensuring they have the resources and encouragement needed to pursue such opportunities. By engaging intentionally with our students, we emphasize the value of interdisciplinary research and our vital role in our student's academic and professional journeys and in nurturing the next generation of scholars. One opportunity for encouraging young scholars to share their research is the Eppendorf & Science Prize for Neurobiology, which celebrates remarkable achievements in neuroscience by young researchers. College educators and mentors can foster a culture of research excellence and ambition. By encouraging and supporting our students to apply for such grants, we open doors to unparalleled opportunities for professional growth and recognition in their fields. Learn more about the award and how to guide your students in applying here: https://lnkd.in/gYtY5kBS #AcademicExcellence #Mentorship #highereducationleadership #FacultySupport #InterdisciplinaryResearch #highered #collegesanduniversities

I worked with my mentee for 6 months on her academic applications, the results are in. Hana Babic recently got admissions to 3 hyper-competitive young scientist programs: - EPFL summer research program - Amgen Scholars Program at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich - Amgen Scholars Program at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm - She was also a top 2 candidate at ETH Zurich All of these programs are life-changing and have a selection rate of around 5%. They receive anywhere between 400-1000 applications every year, offering only 10-15 positions. So how did Hana Babic do it, coming from a country with little to no opportunities for research, especially for undergrads? - First, she gained clarity on what exactly she wanted to do with her science through our guided discussions - She made a short term and long term plan on targeted building of her CV to reflect her values, interests and expertise - She chose labs that were most exciting to her, ones she could read about for days, and those that were open for accepting students - She went on to gain some expertise in the field these labs are studying (to show her commitment to the field) - Finally, she tailored her letters to reflect her achievements and her fit into those labs like a glove All things together, this is an amazing achievement. But in my eyes, the most important thing that was achieved during these 6 months of training is not any position that Hana got. Positions come as a natural consequence of knowing where you're going and how to get there, and that's what Hana understood to the tiniest detail. She learned: how to write, how to approach people, how to investigate labs to fit her and how to make an argument for the value she brings to the next team she joins. My warmest congratulations to you, Hana Babic, you've invested a hell of an effort, and you got what you deserved. Enjoy your success now, and the effect it will have in the years to come.

Why did we create the PhD Success Lab? From our own experiences, we understand how isolating it can be to undertake a three-year project solo, navigating from one milestone to the next. Initially, it may seem like there's an abundance of time—three years. However, week by week, new challenges arise: - You're not entirely sure yet what the exact goal of your project will be. - You await a dataset to initiate your research. - You gather your own data, but the survey start is delayed. - Your experiments don't unfold as expected. - You are behind on your timetable. - You await feedback from your colleagues. - It starts seeming as if your project is progressing slower than others'. - Your supervisor is difficult to reach. - You haven't commenced your first paper as planned. - You realise the scope of your project is too broad for a single PhD study. - You need to prepare a presentation on your project. - The first paper seems to take an eternity to complete. - Your supervisor suggests running even more experiments. - Your co-authors are very passive, leaving all the work for you to do. - During your thesis committee meeting, you receive further suggestions on what you should do with your project. - You discover more and more literature on your topic that you haven't yet read. Lacking feedback from your supervisor … and so on and so forth. Embarking on a PhD journey entails managing a multitude of responsibilities. We lacked support during our own PhD pursuits, but recognise the value in receiving guidance on the dos and don'ts of conducting doctoral studies. Connecting with fellow PhD students to exchange experiences would have been beneficial. Additionally, having someone to advise on organising life as a PhD candidate would have been invaluable. Lacking this support, we resolved to create a mentoring programme where PhD candidates could access the assistance they need. Thus, the PhD Success Lab was conceived. Since its inception, hundreds of PhD researchers have enrolled in the programme, bidding farewell to the stress and challenges of navigating the journey alone. You can join us too: https://lnkd.in/eibwqnpV #phdlife #phdchat #phdcourse