The Post-Doc Experience at a Large Research University

On paper, I am a physicist through-and-through: I earned my BS, MS, and PhD in this discipline because it challenged and engaged me academically. My research interests, on the other hand, have always been biologically inspired. As an undergraduate, I synthesized and characterized polymeric microgels with potential for drug delivery and biosensing applications. In graduate school, I edged closer to biology by quantifying the physical forces at play in the viral lifecycle. As I prepared for my doctoral defense, I realized that formal training in biology would allow me to more confidently interpret the results of my bio-physical research. I also realized that a postdoctoral research experience would be the perfect opportunity to dramatically expand and diversify my research skillset. I inquired about openings in a variety of labs specializing in everything from biotechnology to cancer research, and went through several interviews. I ultimately accepted a position in the Hatfull Lab at the University of Pittsburgh, which specializes in the interactions between bacteria and the viruses which infect them (phages). In my research, which focuses on structural and mechanistic characterization of phage proteins, I am fully immersed in microbiology and virology but also supported by my physics background. My postdoctoral goal is to build a strong biological foundation that complements my underlying physical perspective. I hope to use this combination to establish myself as a cross-disciplinary life sciences researcher with an emphasis on quantitative experimentation rooted in physical techniques.