Genetics began in the garden — Mendel’s pea experiments revolutionized and developed the field and principles we know and study today. Similarly, my scientific journey began with plants. In college, I studied the model organism Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which is unique in its ability to thrive in total darkness, whereas most plants rely on photosynthesis. My(...)
The Interplay of Hormones and Infectious Diseases: How Our Sex Can Impact Our Risk of Getting the Flu
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchWith the long days of summer well behind us, and crunchy leaves and cool temperatures beckoning us forward, we all have to prepare for winter in our own ways. For most, hopefully, that includes getting a flu vaccine! The vaccine is an important tool in our arsenal against influenza, but unfortunately, it is not sufficient(...)
Speaking From Experience: Advice For Residents and Fellows
Posted by | A Day in the LifeBiomedical Odyssey bloggers past and present share their experiences and offer advice to prospective residents and fellows. Here are a few of our favorites: Applying for Residency: Parts One, Two and Three A fourth-year medical student offers pro tips and lessons learned during the residency application process. Advice from a Senior Resident to a New(...)
Tips on How to Choose the Right Laboratory
Posted by | A Day in the LifeFor a graduate student or postdoc, choosing the right laboratory can be a daunting prospect. There are many factors that one must consider, but deciding which to prioritize is often challenging. Individual learning styles, interests and career goals vary vastly, so an environment perfectly suited to one person may be one where another flounders. That(...)
Uncovering a Food Preference Signal in an Overlooked Brain Region
Posted by | Perspectives in Research, Recently PublishedThis October marks the publication of my first lead author scientific article, the culmination of my thesis work thus far. Simply put, I found a previously unknown brain signal in the ventral pallidum that reports how good a food outcome was relative to the other available options. What does this signal mean, and why might(...)
Hope for Treating Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Posted by | Did You See This?, Recently PublishedThink back to when you were a kindergarten-age kid. Your teachers seemed like giants, and you likely had limitless energy to run around, jump, and play tag with your classmates. Now, imagine that every time you tried to run after your friends at the playground, you waddled everywhere and fell frequently. Imagine that whenever you(...)
Learning Through Apprenticeship: A Continued Pillar of Medical Education
Posted by | A Day in the Life“See one, do one, teach one,” is the traditional adage by which physicians learn their trade. This apprenticeship model in medicine is often credited to William Stewart Halsted, the first surgeon-in-chief of Johns Hopkins and the founder of its surgical residency program. Although much has changed in the halls of The Johns Hopkins Hospital since(...)
The State of Johns Hopkins Medicine Address: What Is It?
Posted by | Events and HappeningsI have been part of the Johns Hopkins community for the last five years — first as a laboratory technician and now as a graduate student — and every fall I have gotten an email from Dean Paul Rothman inviting me to attend the State of Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM) address. After years of good(...)
The Future of Biomedical Education: Part 1
Posted by | A Day in the LifeAs graduate students, we spend our days in the lab and are constantly working to balance setting up experiments, tackling our coursework, and attending relevant seminars and meetings. With this hectic day-to-day life, it can be easy to lose track of time, as well as the big picture of our Ph.D. training and the overall(...)
From Crisis to Consensus: Guidelines Aim to Reduce Over-Prescribing of Abused Drugs
Posted by | Did You See This?Every day, 115 Americans are killed by opioid overdose. That this number is so strikingly high underlines the language of ‘“epidemics” and “emergencies” in politicians’ speeches and newspaper headlines. Thousands of articles and millions of research dollars have become components of a concerted effort to understand, quantify and alleviate the opioid epidemic in the United(...)