“I learned that I am definitely on the right academic and career track”: Analyzing Gene Datasets to Understand Memory and Circadian Rhythms Dynamics

(Photo provided by Brooke Scott)

“One of the most interesting things about working in this position was the learning opportunity: I was often looking into gene ontology pathways that I was unfamiliar with, or reading about the functions of proteins that were being abnormally expressed. It was a great and fun learning experience!” ~Brooke Scott

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*In the following interview, TS refers to The Synapse and BS refers to Brooke Scott;

TS: Could you briefly introduce yourself, your research position, and the faculty you worked with?

BS: I’m Brooke and I completed an Honours in Psychology, with a minor in biology. I was an assistant researcher for Dr. Scott Deibel.

TS: What was your ‘day in the life’ working this position? What is the overarching goal of the research you contributed to?

BS: The goal of the research project was to investigate the relationship between memory and circadian rhythms. It was contextualized by past experiments where rats demonstrated long-term memory impairments after being subjected to 21 hour days - a circadian rhythms disruption.

My role consisted of identifying gene ontology pathways that might be associated with long-term memory processes, and identifying any proteins that were being expressed at abnormal levels within them that might explain the memory impairments. My hope was to provide insight into the mechanisms that resulted in the long-term memory impairments. As the data was already collected when I began this position, my work day mostly consisted of going through the data and reading up on some of the gene ontology pathways and abnormally expressed proteins.

TS: What did you find most interesting about working this position?

BS: One of the most interesting things about working in this position was the learning opportunity: I was often looking into gene ontology pathways that I was unfamiliar with, or reading about the functions of proteins that were being abnormally expressed. It was a great and fun learning experience! It was also very exciting to be looking through the data and finding exactly what you expected. I was always very excited when I found abnormally expressed proteins in pathways related to long-term memory processes. Though even if the results obtained had not been expected, I still would have learned something about the phenomenon. In research, you’ll never stop learning!

TS: Is there anything you learned about yourself while working this position?

BS: I learned that I am definitely on the right academic and career track - I found that research is very exciting! I loved learning about the different biological processes and the roles of specific proteins, and considering if and how they might relate to the observed effect. Research is like an exciting puzzle! If you think you may be interested in research, I think it is definitely worth giving it a try.

TS: How did you obtain this position?

BS: I obtained this position by reaching out to Dr. Deibel. I had reached out to him to inquire about supervision for my honours. While he had already taken on an honours student, he did mention that he was looking for a research assistant. We had a meeting to discuss the position and I was very grateful that he decided to hire me.

TS: What would you recommend to students who are interested in working research positions but are unsure how to get involved?

BS: I would begin by trying to get an idea of what your research interests are and looking into which faculty share those research interests. Once you have identified a faculty member that is conducting research that interests you, reach out over email or drop by during their office hours to begin a discussion. Ask questions and show that you are interested in their work. If, after discussing their research, you are interested in working with them, ask if they are looking to take on any students. If they aren’t, don’t be discouraged. There will likely be other opportunities with other faculty members, and you can let them know that you would be very interested in working with them if they are ever looking for a student in the future.

TS: Is there anything else you wish to share about your experience?

BS: As exciting as research is, it can require long and tedious work. If I had to say anything else, it would be to make time for yourself. It’s very easy to get caught up in your work, but it’s important to make time to cook healthy meals you enjoy and go outside for a little exercise. Make sure to set aside time to do the things that you enjoy. Ψ

Created for The Synapse by Incé Husain.