Investigating Science Amidst Crisis: An Insightful Discussion with Molecular Biology Postgrad, Emily Mesev
Adapting to the New Normal: A Ph.D. Candidate's Journey in Molecular Biology During the Pandemic
Emily Mesev, a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate at Princeton University's Department of Molecular Biology, has had to navigate significant changes in her research due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally from Britain, Mesev attended Grinnell College in the United States, where she double-majored in Biochemistry and English. Before embarking on her Ph.D., she spent a few years at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), studying immunology and signal transduction.
Mesev chose Princeton's Molecular Biology department for her Ph.D. due to its interdisciplinary nature and research interests. Her current research focuses on signal transduction, specifically how proteins called interferons relay cellular messages during viral infection.
Initially, the pandemic forced Mesev to work from home, reading and planning future experiments rather than performing them. However, she has since been able to return to the lab, albeit with new safety measures in place. Princeton has implemented safety measures for lab work, including limiting the number of people per square foot of a room, regular testing, and daily symptom checks.
One of the most significant changes Mesev has noticed is an increase in computational work among graduate students, but not a significant change in their projects. Despite this, she misses the social aspect of working in the lab and the camaraderie of having her whole lab together.
Mesev's experience working in the lab during the pandemic may provide insight for undergraduates interested in research. She has had to adapt to working in the lab for half the day and condensing her experiments' work to get more done in that time.
In addition to her research, Mesev enjoys pursuing hobbies in her free time. She plays piano and bakes, and she has even turned one of her spare bedrooms into a home gym, where she works out over Zoom with friends. After a long day in the lab, Mesev goes for a walk every day to get fresh air and a break from screens.
The pandemic has caused significant disruptions and adaptations in research for molecular biology graduate students, including shifts in research focus, interruptions to laboratory access, changes in experimental timelines, and an increased emphasis on COVID-19-related molecular studies. However, these changes have also provided opportunities for expansion in multidisciplinary collaborations and exposure to translational research bridging lab science and patient care.
Mesev's interview provides insight on what research in Molecular Biology might look like for both undergraduates and graduate students during the pandemic. Her experiences highlight the importance of resilience, adaptability, and a positive attitude in the face of challenges.
- Emily Mesev, in her junior paper focused on molecular biology, discusses how she has had to adapt to working from home due to the pandemic, later returning to the lab with new safety measures.
- Mesev's Ph.D. journey in science has led her to explore health-and-wellness aspects, such as incorporating fitness-and-exercise into her daily routine through a home gym and maintaining mental-health through activities like walking daily and playing piano.
- The pandemic has caused career-development hurdles, such as reduced laboratory access and changes in experimental timelines, but it has also opened doors for education-and-self-development through multidisciplinary collaborations and exposure to translational research.
- Personal-growth is evident in Mesev's journey as she demonstrates resilience, adaptability, and a positive attitude in navigating these challenges, offering valuable insights for undergraduates interested in science and research.
