This summer, I had the privilege of participating in the advanced neurobiology course at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL). This intensive six-week program is designed to offer individuals with a keen interest in neuroscience a unique opportunity to acquire knowledge and hands-on experience in cellular and molecular approaches within the field. The syllabus encompasses various facets of professional development, including engaging in collaborative projects, honing public speaking abilities, and attending daily lectures on a wide spectrum of topics within neuroscience.
A hallmark of this program was the exposure to diverse learning opportunities, with daily lectures ranging from fundamental concepts to practical methodologies in neuroscience. Moreover, the immersive aspect in each of the three distinct projects – Molecular Techniques in Imaging, Electrophysiology, and Synapses and Circuits – motivated the 18 of students to learn to work together. Collaborating with a total of 24 faculty members and 18 teaching assistants, I was able to delve into the theory and applications of genetic, imaging, and electrophysiological tools. The team projects, each about two weeks, explored intriguing research areas such as neuronal metabolism, synaptic transmission and organization, neuropeptide signaling, or glial biology in multiple model systems, including rats, mice, and C. elegans. Expected to complete each project in less than two weeks, using the tools that we acquired in lectures on various new equipment, we learned to communicate, seek help, and pivot the plan as necessary. In the end, while the research progress merited future work, the life lessons that I obtained – teamwork, self-discipline, or creative troubleshooting – were invaluable.
In addition to collaborations, I had multiple opportunities to practice public speaking, such as presenting my dissertation project in a data blitz, a three-minute oral presentation, in front of 100 faculty members and fellow students from three concurrent courses at MBL (Neurobiology, Neural Systems and Behavior, Embryology). Further, we were tasked with presenting our work at the end of each team project, introducing the guest speaker, and giving a chalk talk on our home projects. The diverse platforms have bolstered my self-confidence in public speaking and helped sharpen my communication skills.
Interwoven within the extensive research commitments were numerous other enriching events. During the Monday night lectures, esteemed speakers from diverse research domains, spanning cell biology, neurobiology, or genetics, delivered talks that broadened our scientific horizons. These seminars not only expanded our understanding of the scientific topics but also transformed the way I formulated my own research inquiries in the future. Moreover, the program also encouraged social interactions. Meeting with each Monday night lecture speaker, team dinners among the cohort, and weekend activities with other programs provided ample opportunities to connect with peers, forging bonds that proved instrumental in fostering a sense of community.
Finally, this incredible program afforded me a chance to leverage my career trajectory. After having worked closely with two faculty members on two separate projects, they were impressed by my performance at MBL and decided to invite me to visit their lab in-person for a postdoc interview.
In summary, I would not have been able to attend such a transformational program without the financial support of the OBGE Professional Development Award. This experience has given me valuable professional connections, inspirations for research projects, and future directions.