Interview Questions!

On July 20th, I interviewed Anthony Covarrubias, one of my co-workers in my laboratory. He is someone like a big brother for me in my workplace. He has taught me many techniques and things that I need to know in the lab. He is a very funny person and soothes me whenever I make some mistake. His existence in the lab has helped to adjust to work and get used to the things going on in the laboratory.

It was a privilege for me to learn about his life, which was filled with passion and love for science.

Name: Anthony Covarrubias, Ph.D Candidate in Wendy Garrett Lab

How did you get to where you are right now?

"I believe I got to where I am at as a Ph.D candidate at Harvard University by following what I truly love to do. I initially did not know that I wanted to get a Ph.D in science, but I always knew I wanted to be involved in scientific research. Thus, when I started college, I started doing research on plants for two years. Later, I wanted my work to have an impact on diseases that affect disadvantaged and communities of color. Thus, I did science research on hepatitis, cancer, obesity, and AIDS during the next few years. In summary, I got to where I am now by hard work, determination, and luck (I was fortunate to work with people who cared about mentoring me)."

If you had any trouble or hardship as you pursue the career of science, what would that be and how did you overcome it?

"For me, science has been a journey, in which I have worked with many different professors and students on many different topics. Although there are many labs researching a variety of topics, the biggest challenge for me was always getting my foot in the door. It takes a lot of time and resources to add someone (especially a young person with no experience) to a research team. Thus, finding the right lab and topic is one challenge, and equally challenging is convincing them to take you on. However, once you join, if you work hard and are dedicated, everything else will fall into place."

What is the favorite part of your job?

"My favorite part of my job is being able to think of interesting scientific questions and also being able to answer them in creative ways. I think being the first one in the world to know about a interesting science result and also knowing that you have contributed to the scientific community is very enjoyable."

What excites you about the research you are doing?

"The research I am doing is exciting because it allows me to answer questions about how a cancer cell functions. This will allow scientists to learn more about how this deadly disease works and how we can invent new strategies to defeat it. It may also have an impact in the clinic and may one day allow doctors to treat their patients more effectively."

What do you think the most important personality or trait is that a scientist should possess?

"I think the most important trait a scientist should have is persistence and determination. Often science can be like a roller coaster ride with its ups and downs. There may be many weeks in which experiments will yield very little results or don't work. Thus, a scientist should have the resilience to keep working hard and eventually the hard work will be rewarded with important and interesting data. On the contrary, you may have very good results, but it is important to acknowledge the many people on your research team and the countless other scientists who have contributed to your field of study."

Could you give me some advice that would help me to succeed as a scientist?

"My advice to a young person trying to succeed in science is to pursue science that is fun and meaningful to the researcher. This means finding the right lab, a good mentor, and also a interesting science project. I would also suggest that you work with different people and explore all your options. If you try to meet more people and can make strong connections with them, you will be able to get more perspectives and advice that you can use to help yourself in the future."

Thank you so much, Anthony!!