In the last few weeks, three graduate-level trainees successfully defended their doctoral work done at Waksman, earning them all their PhDs. The work from these trainees involved using their own respective, non-mammalian model organisms, which helped them provide valuable insights into the world of fertilization, microbial drug resistance, and the basic process of transcription.
Yamei Zuo, PhD
Yamei started working with Dr. Andrew Singson in late spring 2020, initiating her doctoral project focused on sperm membrane protein interactions essential for fertilization in C. elegans. Her research aimed to uncover the proteins involved and the mechanisms underlying these interactions, as well as investigate how their disruption could lead to reduced fertility. This work has the potential to provide valuable insights into fertility-related issues and contribute to advancements in contraceptives.
What kept Yamei sane through it all:
“I would say it’s all the support I got from everyone. The lab, the friends, family and the cats too. Everyone believed I could do it, so that made me believe in myself!”
Words of Wisdom:
“Just keep going and you’ll get there. Of course, reach out for help whenever you feel like you need it, either to friends, family or the program”
Dr. Zuo is currently looking for post-doctoral positions in which she hopes to study reproductive health.
Hoa Vu, PhD
Hoa began her doctoral research in Bryce Nickels' lab in the fall of 2017, developing a protein-DNA photo-crosslinking method to investigate sequence-dependent variations in RNA polymerase interactions with DNA during transcription in vivo. This method enabled her to analyze conformational changes and interactions of RNAP variants with DNA promoters on a massive, parallel scale, achieving nucleotide- and amino acid-level resolution during transcription initiation and early elongation in E. coli. Her work clarifies the mechanisms governing key steps of transcription and provides a promising new tool for studying nucleic acid interactions in any protein-DNA system in vivo.
Check out Dr. Vu’s publication from her doctoral work:
What kept Hoa sane through it all:
“Going to the gym, talking to my lab mates, PI, and friends from my program about my struggle, asking for help”
Words of Wisdom:
“You need a lot of support from family, PI, lab mates, and friends to get a PhD- so build your support system; the more, the better”
Dr. Vu continues to work with Dr. Nickels and expand her doctoral projects.
Samuel Adeleye, PhD
Sam began his doctoral studies in Dr. Sam Yadavalli’s lab in the spring of 2020, focusing on bacterial responses to environmental stressors at the molecular level. His research revealed that a specific biosynthetic enzyme in E. coli has an additional “moonlighting" role when bacteria are exposed to non-lethal (sub-MIC) levels of antimicrobial peptides, disrupting cell division and leading to elongated growth. This phenomenon is a known adaptive mechanism by which bacteria develop antibiotic and immune system resistance, and Sam’s work provides valuable mechanistic insights into resistance pathways.
Check out Dr. Adeleye’s publication from his doctoral work:
What kept Samuel sane through it all:
“My Lab colleagues, especially Sangeev, with whom we started together, my friends, my beloved wife - Stephanie, and a sense of purpose and vision from God.”
Words of Wisdom:
“PhD is all about taking slow but incremental steps until the degree in completed. Give yourself some grace, don't compare your PhD race with others, everyone is in their unique journey.”
Dr. Adeleye is moving on to become an advisor for Biotherapeutics with Eli Lilly.