Headshot of Ciara Sanders, Ph.D. student. Photo credit: Ciara Sanders.
For this post, I decided to ask third-year Ph.D. student Ciara Sanders in Dr. Brooks Lab here at Princeton about her experience in molecular biology graduate school. She hails from California and is currently carrying out microbiology research for her Ph.D. For students considering molecular biology research/Ph.D. as a career, these questions may help answer any concerns you have, especially since medical school seems to be the popular option for molecular biology majors.
Haya Elamir (HE): What made you decide to choose biology research? Within that, what helped you narrow down to microbiology research?
Ciara Sanders (CS): As a kid I always said that I wanted to be a medical doctor. Honestly, I don’t even know why, but I like to blame it on my elementary school putting me in their Gifted & Talented Program. I’m a first-generation college graduate, so when I was labeled as “Academically Gifted”, my family really ran with it. When I said science was my favorite subject in school, my family and I clung to the only science career we knew of: doctor! I didn’t understand that research was a career option until I joined a research lab in undergrad. I chose a microbiology lab because I was interested in learning about the gut microbiome. I enjoyed it so much that I ended up sticking with it. Now, while I still do microbiology, I also focus a lot more on the host side of things, and I enjoy that too! I think your environment and your relationship with your adviser is far more impactful on how much you enjoy your research than the specific topic. I ultimately joined the Brooks lab because I really enjoy working with John and the rest of the lab members.
HE: Any advice for students weighing between pre-med and a research career?
CS: Research is more about asking questions and making scientific discoveries where medicine is more about applying scientific discoveries to human health. It’s hard to put either in a box because there is clinical research and there are medical doctors who do research. I chose research because I’m more interested in how life works and basic science. I’m less intrigued by human biology or translation and application of scientific discoveries to human health.
HE: What was the process like for you when you applied for grad school? What did you think supported your process the most?
CS: I completed a 2-year Master’s program before I started the Ph.D. program here. There are plenty of people who go from undergrad to Ph.D., but I wasn’t certain and the time commitment of a Ph.D. scared me. The lab I joined for my Master’s was really incredible and the network, experience, and confidence I gained during this time supported me the most. It’s important to remember that it’s not a race to a finish line, and if you need some extra time to decide on a career path, you should definitely take the time.
HE: What’s an average day for you as a Ph.D. student?
CS: I mostly work 40 hour weeks, 9-5, M-F. I really enjoy academia because there is more flexibility for work hours, but the flexibility makes it really easy to overwork if you don’t keep an eye on it. An average day as a Ph.D. student doesn’t always feel very productive or satisfying, but it’s important to recognize the importance of days like these. Someone once told me that if undergrad is a sprint, graduate school is a marathon. A lot of tasks in graduate school can’t be done in one day or one week, so an average day is spent making small contributions to your degree. My average day includes activities like reading papers, brainstorming with colleagues, planning experiments, troubleshooting experiments, updating lab notes, making figures, and asking questions. These days make the exciting days possible!
HE: What helped you come up with your research question for your thesis? What’s the biggest obstacle you’ve faced so far?
CS: My adviser and I have developed my question together throughout my time in the lab. So far, my research question is always evolving. I have an overarching goal in my research, but as I collect more data and make more conclusions, my questions get tweaked. Sometimes you get really weird results in an experiment that leads you down a rabbit hole you didn’t expect.
My biggest obstacle so far is the ebb and flow of my motivation. I stress out when I feel unmotivated for an extended period of time. It’s hard for me to show myself compassion during these periods and I can get really in my head about my performance. It’s gonna happen though; five years is a long time. I’m learning to reach out to colleagues I trust during this time or even talk to my adviser about it so I don’t go down a rabbit hole of stress.
HE: What was the process of choosing a mentor like?
CS: Choosing an adviser is so hard! For me, it was way more important than choosing the research. Wherever you end up, you’re going to be there for five years! In the end, all you can do is be honest and ask the questions that are important to you. It’s really important that you find someone that you feel comfortable communicating with. I also made sure during the process to talk to graduate students and postdocs in the lab about their experiences with the mentor. I also really support departments that do research rotations; it’s a great way to explore different mentoring styles and get a feel for a lab.
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Hopefully these questions answer any of the concerns pursuing a Ph.D. degree in molecular biology holds for you, and you feel more aware of the career path you may or may not be choosing. Thank you to Ciara for answering all of my questions!
— Haya Elamir, Natural Sciences Correspondent
