Why I Choose Vanderbilt University to Start a Research Career in Developmental Cancer Biology

I was captivated by Mendelian genetics and the tissue level organization of an organism as a freshman in high school. Because of this, I choose Biotechnology at PSG College of Technology as my undergraduate major. During my under graduation, I have been exposed to a wide range of Biotechnology related fields from basics like Biomolecules, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, and Genetics to many advanced fields like Genetic Engineering, Developmental Biology, and Cancer Biology. Exploiting the basics of these fields furnished me with requisite knowledge both in theory and practical. Moreover, it helped me build my interest in developmental cancer biology. The aim for attending Vanderbilt University and for this supplemental essay is to explain why I can't continue my studies at current university and want to be transferred to Vanderbilt University. I had to take a break from my Ph.D. study due to some unexpected medical conditions. Now that everything has been taken care of, I am ready to start my research career. I am open to elaborate more if you have further questions. And over this break, I realized that my interest lies in studying the tumor microenvironment through developmental biology. I would like to continue the same at Vanderbilt University through the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program mainly because of the nature of research that has been taking place on this topic by the extensive pool of scientists from various departments.

As a third-year undergraduate student, I worked on several mini-projects closely related to the practical courses I was taking as a junior on Genetic Engineering, Protein Biochemistry and Bioinformatics. These projects gave me a sketch of how interconnected every field can be. Working on these projects I had learned how to conduct experiments and function productively in an academic lab, and the teamwork taught me to collaborate effectively so that everyone can contribute fruitfully to the project. My final year project on “Assessment of Taurine in Dementia Patients” in the field of Neuroscience made me understand the importance of ethics while working with animals and humans apart from practical knowledge. I gained experience in planning a new project from scratch. I learned to complete a huge project covering a complete semester by organizing and keeping track of smaller goals.

My undergraduate education gave me a strong basis for me to start graduate studies in the same field with the emphasis on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine at NIT Rourkela. I worked with Dr. Indranil Banerjee at NIT Rourkela on my master’s thesis that was focused on the biomaterial nickel doped nano-hydroxyapatite and how it can be used in bone tissue engineering applications. This project provided me with an insight into current medical problems. With my realm being an interesting medley of biotechnology and nano biomaterials, I educated myself in both fields and my dexterity with animal cell culture and its related techniques such as cell-based assays have gained momentum since then. I also got trained in the use of flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, ELISA, and RT-qPCR. In each role, I earned commendations for the quality of my research, including data collection, quantitative analysis, and result interpretation. This was my first extensive research project and I overcame many challenges during this period. I learned that you would have both positive and negative results while doing research. I also learned that negative results should not be considered a failure but instead as an idea to branch out. The payoff for my dedication and diligence came when my thesis got published in the international journal RSC Advances..

After my masters, I worked at Stony Brook University on a project entitled: “Next generation of arrays of micro-wells with the integrated bottom filter for spatial genomics to study cancer heterogeneity.” Over the period of two years in Dr. Eric Brouzes lab, I developed this device particularly to study genomics while retaining spatial information, and then proved that the device can efficiently transfer nucleus from tissue to the micro-wells in non-tumorous mouse tissues and retained the spatial information of every cell in the tissue by taking fluorescence microscopy images before and after nuclear transfer. This project was a challenge as it was the first time I did experimental research that was completely unrelated to biology for over a year and developed a working model that was filed for the patent. This experience boosted my confidence to come out of my comfort zone and try new things. Even though I was designing micro-wells, if I had continued my research I would have used this device to study the cancer heterogeneity and the tumor microenvironment.

In the immediate future, I want to extensively study the signaling mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment. But there are larger questions to address in the years to come. How is cancer metastasis happening? What are the deciding factors in cancer metastasis? What role does cell communication within the tumor microenvironment play in metastasizing? I want to work with Dr. James Patton, Dr. Julie Rhoades and Dr. Wenbiao Chan at Vanderbilt University whose research can help me find answers to these questions and find solutions to cancer resistance and regrowth.

Lastly, I believe the solution to cancer lies in the convergence of developmental biology and cancer biology. Therefore, I am also interested in studying the mechanisms behind the development of the organs and tissues. What were the determining factors in cell fate? How and why cells interpret the signals in a certain way to decide its fate in development? And to get to this, I want to work with Dr. Maureen Gannon, Dr. Andrea Page-McCaw and Dr. Vivian Gama to study the cell fate determination. Then, by using this knowledge on human development, one can address the questions more specific to the origin of cancer.

In addition to my research, I have been passionate about teaching. I have been a peer instructor for various biotechnology related courses over the past years. In developing my own lectures and holding office hours to clear student’s doubts, I have learned that teaching can be extremely challenging, but also very satisfying. I very strongly believe that well-explored and attentive teaching can make a transformation in student outcomes, and I am thrilled to continue my educational journey as a teaching assistant at Vanderbilt University.

My immediate plan after completing Ph.D. is to go into industry to learn the dynamics and culture of the translational environment that bring our ideas into products for the betterment of humans. But in the long run, I would like to come back to academia. My life has been enriched and benefitted in so many ways by the teachers and professors who have mentored me and I would like to pass on that kind of inspiration and enrichment to the next generation of students. As with research, my objective is twofold: to study the tumor microenvironment to understand the cancer metastasis, and to understand the possible regulatory mechanisms through which development of human body which forms the basis of all the regenerative medicine and the therapeutics.