All posts by M. Isabel da Silva

Alumni Spotlight

Kahina Ghanem, Professor in Avian Reproductive Physiology

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We asked Kahina to talk about her experience in obtaining a Ph.D at Penn State. Here, she shares her opinion and advice on how to succeed during and after graduate school.

About Kahina Ghanem

LinkedIn | Professional page

Kahina obtained a Ph.D. degree in Integrative and Biomedical Physiology at The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Penn State, in 2019. She received postdoctoral training at the University of Rochester Medical Center and currently, she is an Assistant Professor in Avian Reproductive Physiology in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Minnesota.

What motivated you to choose your Ph.D. program at Penn State?

I really wanted to get a Ph.D. in Physiology. At Penn State, I found the Graduate Program in Integrative and Biomedical Physiology which offers lab rotations to incoming graduate candidates. This rotational system got my attention once it provided me with the opportunity to train and explore different research topics and get to know faculty and students from different departments. Ultimately, the more I learned about the academic training opportunities at Penn State, the more I had the feeling that it was the right place for me.

How did your Ph.D. training prepare you for your current job position?

My graduate education at Penn State made me a strong applicant which ultimately led me to be hired in my current position. The coursework and scientific training I received through my Ph.D. Program gave me the knowledge and critical thinking skills to become a leading scientist. To me, the mentorship I received from my advisor, Dr. Alan Johnson, was the most important aspect of my Ph.D. training. He taught me to be independent and take responsibility for my training and success in academia. Over time, his lessons and advice helped me to be confident in proposing and completing project ideas. Finally, the supportive and engaging environment in the Department of Animal Science made me feel welcome and allowed me to develop lifelong friendships.

What is something surprising that you learned about yourself during your Ph.D.?

I was in denial about being depressed.

Describe a setback you experienced. How did you overcome and learn from it?

The hardest thing I experienced in graduate school was to allow my critical, inner voice to drown out everything else. As the years passed, I became unhappy with my performance and achievements. I was often defining myself by how well an experiment went, whether I achieved a deadline or not. The funny thing is, the harder I was on myself the less productive and efficient with my time I became. All of this culminated in me becoming more depressed. What helped me to snap out of this harmful mindset was to change my perspective and attend therapy. I came to understand that my self-worth does not solely dependent on my accomplishments at work; my self-worth comes from all aspects of my life.

What advice you think is the most valuable for someone who…

  • Is applying for graduate school … Just go for it and let your passion be the driver.
  • Is starting graduate school … Do not compare yourself to others.
  • Is finishing graduate school … How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Also, if you are planning on doing a postdoc, and you don’t like it, leave! A Postdoc is supposed to be fun. Do not be afraid to find a postdoc that you like. It will make all the difference in the world!

Interview by M. Isabel da Silva

Mental Health at Penn State

Whether you are struggling with academic stress, homesickness, relationship issues, depression, or another mental health concern, the staff at the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) are available to support you. >> Read more

Student Stories

Checking feelings

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As a scientist, I often spent more time lost in thoughts outside of myself – experiments, deadlines, coursework – than devoting time to personal introspection. However, I discovered that reflecting on my motivations and goals are important to feeling centered and succeeding in grad school. Thus, I wrote to myself some reminders and started revisiting them as checkpoints for my mental health. Although, in the beginning, the following advice sounded to me like superficial aphorisms on the back of a teabag, “sip by sip” I became aware that I could be happier if I followed them.

Note: It is bittersweet to write about my personal experiences as I am still finding my ways to conclude my degree. I am not here to give anyone advice. Instead, I share my story to contribute to the community of graduate students who are enduring difficult times and want to talk about it.

Stop comparing yourself with others

I heard this advice on my first day in graduate school by talking with senior students. At the beginning of my training trying to be as good as my peers helped me acquire and improve upon skills that were beneficial to my professional performance. However, overtime, comparing myself with others often led me to think that I was not working hard enough. My continuous desire to out-do myself drained my energy and led to negative self-esteem. After a few good cries and self-analysis, I noticed that excessively comparing myself with others was detrimental to my overall well-being. Each graduate student has different life experiences, abilities, and cultural and educational backgrounds. Our differences provide us each with unique ways to execute tasks. So instead of looking at my classmates as rivals, I asked for their advice and offered support. Their accomplishments now inspire me to believe that I will also be successful in my own way and in my own time.

You are good enough

Being in academia has allowed me to encounter many smart and talented people and explore unfamiliar situations. Inevitably, I went through periods of self-doubt and despair. I often asked myself if I deserved to be a doctoral student while I was hopeless that I would be able to get anything done correctly. I was afflicted with “imposter syndrome.” Luckily, I had emotional support from family and friends who reminded me of my own self-worth. They reminded me of my story, my frustrations, my persistence, and my accomplishments. So, when you start doubting yourself, remember your trajectory, your victories, and that you are already successful for simply making it this far.

There is always something to be thankful for

It is easy to dwell on problems and let the negative thoughts become all-consuming. I experienced this when I projected my frustrations at work onto my partner. After hearing me out, a friend helped me realize how I was making my relationship unhealthy and how my partner, to the best of his abilities, was being nothing but supportive through my hard times. From this situation, I learned that when I am having bad days at work, instead of projecting my feelings onto others, I should remind myself of the good things I have in my life – family, friendships, accomplishments – and be grateful for them.

Be true to your current self

Not long ago, I found myself imagining what my future would look like. I started asking; What do I want to achieve in my personal life? What do I want to do for a living? What are my passions? I felt odd for not knowing or having complete answers to these questions. Little by little, I discovered new goals and priorities that were significantly different from those I had at the beginning of my Ph.D. training. In my first two years, I worked overtime, trying to advance my training and get more work done. I often canceled social meetings with friends and colleagues. Then, I found myself feeling lonely and missing fun moments. I realized that developing friendships and bonding with my peers improved not only teamwork but gave me a sense of belonging. I also thought that a career in academia was my only option after graduation. But now I see that there are other careers in science that I would love to contribute to. Today, I am working towards achieving my new goals and adjusting my work-life balance to meet my expectations for my future career. Thus, knowing what you want and knowing that this too may change, is something powerful and transformative.

Overall, I AM proud to be a Ph.D. student. I also agree academia needs to change and support a healthier environment for the minds of students, faculty, and staff. So, check our feelings, talk about them, and work together to promote change.

Written by M. Isabel da Silva

Mental Health at Penn State

Whether you are struggling with academic stress, homesickness, relationship issues, depression, or another mental health concern, the staff at the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) are available to support you. >> Read more

Alumni Spotlight

Michael Santillo, Chemist at FDA

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We interviewed Michael Santillo about his experience during graduate school at Penn State. Here, he shares his opinions and advice on how to be successful during and after graduate school.

About Michael Santillo

LinkedIn | ORCID

Michael obtained a Ph.D. degree in Chemistry at Penn State in 2009 and served as a postdoctoral fellow at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2010 to 2013. For the past decade, he continued working at the FDA as a research chemist. Michael develops in vitro cellular and biochemical methods to detect and predict the safety of chemicals in foods and dietary supplements. His applied-research spans the fields of chemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology.  

What motivated you to choose your Ph.D. program at Penn State?

I applied to the Chemistry Graduate Program at Penn State because of its excellent reputation in research quality and output, and grant funding opportunities. I liked how the department focused on interdisciplinary research projects, particularly my advisor who was also affiliated with the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences. Furthermore, I noticed that alumni from my advisor’s lab had successful careers in academia, federal government, and industry. All of these factors led me to choose Penn State for my graduate education.

How did your Ph.D. training prepare you for your current job position?

Through my doctoral training, I was exposed to diverse experiences that prepared me to become a research scientist. As a teaching assistant, I developed skills in leadership, time management, communication, and organization that enabled me to lecture and supervise lab activities in a room of 25 undergraduate students. In my advisor’s lab, I learned to be resourceful, a fast learner, and an independent problem solver. I gained teamwork skills by training junior lab members in new methods and instruments and offering critical advice on their research projects. Finally, after giving talks at national meetings and writing journal articles, I realized that communication skills are equally important as technical knowledge and lab skills.

What is something surprising that you learned about yourself during your Ph.D.?

I learned that I could overcome many challenges in graduate school (failed experiments, short deadlines, rejected manuscripts, etc) if I focused on the task at hand and identified all available options to solve a certain problem. By trying different solutions, I realized at least one of them would be successful.

Describe a setback you experienced. How did you overcome and learn from it?

I wrote a few manuscripts that were rejected by journals without opportunities for revision. Receiving criticism from editors and reviewers allowed me to improve my scientific writing and experimental thinking which resulted in future manuscripts being published.

What advice do you think is the most valuable for someone who is:

  • Applying for graduate school. (1) Obtain practical experience in academic research or industry internships instead of only taking classes through the university. (2) Apply to a graduate school that has multiple faculty members who you would be interested in working with as not all advisors can accept a new student into their labs. (3) Contact current graduate students to gain a sense of the academic and cultural environment of their program. (4) Research the alumni of a given program and learn the career paths that your degree or research field can provide you with.
  • Starting graduate school. (1) Be attentive to faculty personality, leadership style, lab management, and research team interactions when choosing a thesis advisor. (2) Attend career fairs and start browsing job listings early on to know your options and better prepare for job positions. (3) Be resourceful and take initiative in your training. (4) Look for opportunities to give oral presentations and write papers. Communication skills are equally important as technical lab skills regardless of your career path.
  • Finishing graduate school. (1) Apply to as many jobs as possible and do not be surprised if it takes several months for you to receive a response. The more applications you submit, the higher the chances you will get an interview. (2) If you are invited for an interview, obtain information beforehand on the organization and what they do. (3) Develop a short “elevator pitch” that you can use when marketing your research or skills to potential employers, and modify it depending on who you are speaking to (e.g., human resources recruiter vs. scientist).

Interview by M. Isabel da Silva

Career Feature

Insights on becoming a journal editor

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We invited Rita Strack to talk about her path into becoming a journal editor. Here, Rita talks about some responsibilities and expectations from her job and offers some advice to those who are interested in pursuing an editorial career in science.

About Rita Strack

LinkedIn | Twitter

Rita received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Chicago, and postdoctoral training at Weill Cornell Medical College. Her research experience propelled her to a position at Nature Methods, reviewing content related to imaging, microscopy, protein, and RNA biochemistry. 

Why did you choose to pursue a career as a science editor? 

Before becoming an editor, I obtained a Ph.D. and postdoc in the life sciences. I was originally on an academic track, however, I decided to switch to an editorial career after reviewing my personal and professional priorities. First off, I wanted a work-life balance, as I had just become a mom. I was concerned I would not have enough time and energy to be both a new parent and an assistant professor, although certainly many people have done it successfully. Second, I realized I could be happy doing something other than running a lab. This was a critical realization that changed how I thought of myself and my future and allowed me to cast a wider net of job possibilities. Third, I saw a job listing for an editorial position at Nature Methods that seemed written just for me. The job description matched my professional interests and expertise, so I applied. I love methods development, and I am not sure I would be happy as an editor anywhere else. Finally, I wanted to stay in New York because my husband has a great job here. Beyond these reasons, I wanted a job that kept me in science, a job that is engaging and has importance to me and others. I think being an editor satisfies all these criteria.

What is a usual day/week at your job?

I spend a typical day doing a variety of tasks. First and foremost are my duties to the journal. Each editor is responsible for handling all stages involving the publication of a manuscript. So, on any given day I am reading new papers, assigning referees, reading reviews that come in, talking to the editorial team about the papers, and sending decisions to authors. Beyond curating the research portion of the journal, I write content for the magazine portion of the journal, which includes the editorial and research highlights. I also provide input and developmental editing to other magazine sections, such as Reviews, Perspectives, Comments, and News and Views. Another big part of our job is networking, hearing about cutting edge research, and staying on top of trends. Thus, I am active on Twitter (@rita_strack) engaging with the scientific community and I often travel 5-8 times per year for campus visits to meet with faculty and students and to attend conferences.

From your experience, what does a journal look for in applicants to this job position?

In my view, the main quality we look for in candidates is the ability to critically read scientific articles and communicate about them. Our successful job candidates have impressed us with their ability to read and understand papers from their expertise areas, point out critical flaws, and speak clearly about whether a manuscript might be a good fit for our journal. Beyond this, we look for individuals with a specific interest in professional editing, a good understanding of the scientific fields we hope for the person to cover, familiarity with the journal, and willingness to learn new things.

What skills have made you and other science editors successful? Were there any unexpected skills that you had to learn?

Beyond all the training I got reading and writing papers while I was doing research, I think a few things have helped me be good at this job. I am good at time management, which is important because our job has a lot of deadlines. I am also a fast reader with high reading comprehension, and I am good at multitasking and staying organized. In addition, I love the journal. Our editorial team cares very deeply about making Nature Methods a journal everyone wants to read, and this care is reflected in our content.

Something unexpected I learned in my job was that I could trade an in-depth knowledge in a few topics for a larger knowledge in broad scientific areas. I have found this process a fun challenge. Any trained scientist who carefully reads ~500 diverse papers a year will naturally broaden their knowledge in different areas. This is one of the biggest perks that come from being an editor, getting to learn a lot of cool science.

What advice do you have for graduate students looking into work as a journal editor? 

I did not do any specific training to become an editor, but I think being actively involved with writing papers and doing peer reviews with my advisors helped me understand the editorial process better and ultimately be hired for my job. I encourage graduate students to attend journal clubs, participate in science writing or communication workshops and/or activities, and to reach out to editors for informational interviews.

Get into science writing

If you wish to explore a career in science writing, start now! Here are some resources to get you informed and active:

Interview by M. Isabel da Silva

Career Feature

Dr. Jianbo Hu Career Seminar

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It was our great pleasure to have Dr. Jianbo Hu give a seminar on “Careers in Technology Transfer”. Dr. Hu described his career path towards a technology licensing officer, and provided several tips and training resources for graduate students interested in tech transfer.

As a senior technology licensing officer at Penn State College of Medicine and Hershey Medical Center, Dr. Hu independently manages all aspects of the College’s technology transfer needs, for instance negotiating NDA, MTA, collaboration agreements, and IP and data access for sponsored research agreements with many pharmaceutical companies. He also contributes to the College’s research contracts and clinical trial agreements negotiation with both for-profit and non-profit organizations.

Dr. Hu received his Ph.D. from the Department of Animal Sciences at Washington State University in 2000, he continued as a postdoctoral fellow and then a research scientist. He started as a Technology Transfer Specialist at the National Cancer Institute in 2007. Before moving to Penn State in September 2017, Dr. Hu worked at Oregon State University as a Licensing and Patenting Manager. He has significant experience in handling technologies in the areas of biomedical and life sciences, chemistry, chemical engineering and microfluidics.

During his talk, Dr. Hu started by introducing the Bayh-Dole Act in 1980, how it dealt with intellectual property arising from federal government-funded research, and further motivated the universities to establish technology transfer offices. He also gave a thorough explanation of technology transfer as an industry, an overview of the job market, and a typical day-to-day life as a technology licensing officer.

Next, Dr. Hu talked about how his research experiences in National Cancer Institutes led him towards the fellowship position as a Technology Transfer Specialist, where he started a career in tech transfer. He then pointed out that the transitioning process was rewarding but also challenging, and then introduced the resources and professional organizations he found helpful along the way. Finally, Dr. Hu provided advice and tips for graduate students interested in a tech transfer career, and how they could get prepared during graduate school, such as collaborating on industry projects, working in the area of medical applications/drug discovery, and engaging in multidisciplinary research.

If you are interested in a career in tech transfer and would like to get more specific suggestions, feel free to reach out to Dr. Hu (jxh1078@psu.edu) and also see the below resources and tech transfer organizations.

 

 

 Training in Technology Transfer:
Event Recap

Valentine’s Day Cookie Decorating

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By Kelly Marie Ness

The Huck Graduate Student Advisory Committee (HGSAC) hosted a cookie decorating event for Valentine’s Day. Students were encouraged to make themselves (or someone special) a sweet treat, to enjoy coffee, tea, or hot cocoa, and to socialize for a few minutes with friends from other Huck programs. This is the second holiday-themed coffee hour that the HGSAC has hosted. The last was just before Thanksgiving when students came out in large numbers for pie. Coffee hours with themes are more well-attended than those without, and the atmosphere is cheerful and upbeat. Next on the docket? St. Patrick’s Day/spring! We’re going to have an assortment of foods available to dip in some chocolate fondue, yum!