Meet the Researcher
Talya Wasserman
Bar Ilan University
Nof Ayalon, Isreal
Current Research
What is your research focus?
My work focuses on the mutation in the thyroid hormone (TH) transporter OATP1C1 (organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1C1) that is associated with cognitive and motor functioning disturbances in humans. We use an oatp1c1-/- mutant zebrafish to understand the role of OATP1C1 and the characteristics of OATP1C1 deficiency.
What current project are you excited about?
Currently, I’m focusing on a new mechanism of THs and Agrp1 and how this affects feeding during Oatp1c1 deficiency. The results identified a THs-Tsh-Agrp1 interaction, and we see that the loss of TH transport into the brain by mutations in Oatp1c1 resulted in hyperactivity of the HPT axis and increased Tsh signaling, which promotes Agrp1 neuronal proliferation and feeding in zebrafish.
What do you like about working with zebrafish? What don’t you like about it?
I think that the zebrafish is an amazing animal model for brain diseases because zebrafish contain a conserved organization of the brain. In addition, I like that we can image the brain live or fixed very easily, and we get beautiful movies and pictures as a bonus. Therefore, we can do genetic manipulations and create models for diseases in a relatively easy way. The part that I don’t like is that every time you set fish up for mating you need to hope that they will lay eggs in the next day.
Getting to know you better
Where were you born/where did you grow up?
I was born in a small town in Israel called Nof Ayalon and I had an amazing childhood. Nof Ayalon is a quiet and beautiful place with lovely people. I had many friends and many activities after school.
When did you realize you wanted to have a career as a scientist? /What made you realize you wanted to have a career as a scientist?
In high school I majored in chemistry and had an amazing teacher who showed us her love for science and research. It was then I realized that the fields of science, experiments, and research are my future, and I wanted a career as a scientist. Therefore, I chose biology as my first degree.
Where did you do your undergraduate studies? Did you do research with anyone?
I did my undergraduate studies in Bar Ilan University. During my undergraduate studies I joined Prof. Doron Gerber’s lab where we searched for protein-protein interactions in Hepatitis C (HCV) using a unique method: chip microfluidic large-scale integration.
Where did you do your graduate studies and with whom? What did you work on?
I did my graduate studies in Bar Ilan University. I obtained my MSc in Microbiology in Prof. Ronit Sarid’s lab. My research focused on the functional characterization of the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus protein ORF35. After I finished my MSc, I wanted to do research in neuroscience. I heard about Prof. Lior Appelbaum, who uses zebrafish, and it sounded really cool to me. Now, I’m currently doing my PhD in the Applebaum lab and I am very much enjoying it.
Where did you do postdoctoral studies and with whom? What did you work on?
I'm still doing my PhD, so time will tell…
What other jobs have you had?
In high school, every summer I worked as a camp counselor. After I graduated high school, I worked in various jobs such as: kindergarten helper, participator in a delegation of people from Israel to a camp in Pennsylvania, and I even worked in an office which deals with economic issues. Additionally, I volunteered with kids with special needs during my BSc and MSc.
Science and Careers
Share a turning point or defining moment in your science/career.
I think the defining moment in my career was when my first paper was accepted to be published in a journal. I worked very hard on the research and once it was accepted, I received the confirmation that I had done high quality work which other people found interesting and would be used to further promote the knowledge of science.
If you could be present for any "Eureka" moment in history (i.e. the moment some scientific discovery was made), which moment would you choose? Why?
If I needed to choose a "Eureka" moment in history I would really like to travel back to the 80's to Prof. Philip Horvath's lab. They discovered the CRISPR sequences and realized that they had found a new gene editing technology that could revolutionize the world of medicine and research. I am also personally very excited about this discovery because I use it often in my research and every time I get excited about this genius technology. It’s so simple and specific and it gives spectacular results.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in science/research?
If you have the passion for research, it interests you and you have good hands, a lot of patience and think creatively – then go for it.
Where do you think the next scientific breakthroughs are going to occur?
There are numerous fields in science which have works in progress. However, in my opinion, the breakthroughs will take place in the field of personalized biological treatments and using the field of AI for various scientific breakthroughs.
What is the most challenging part about your science or obtaining your career goals?
I think there are many challenging aspects in choosing science as a career. One is the persistence and patience that you need to return to the same experiment for a long period of time, and second is to know when you need to let go and move on. Additionally, during my PhD I gave birth to 2 children and published 2 papers; currently I am working on my third. I found that that it’s challenging to learn how to balance research and raising a family.
Outside of work
What do you enjoy doing outside of work/lab?
I love to be with my family, hanging out with friends, traveling throughout Israel and around the world, and seeing movies, shows and concerts.
What are you reading right now (not including research papers)?
I just finished reading the book, "The Life List", by Lori Nelson Spielman. I loved it because the story tells us to be aware of where we are standing in our life, to be attentive to ourselves and surround our lives with what makes us feel good.
Name a favorite song or musical piece.
‘Somebody to Love’ by Queen.
Favorite place you have lived or visited?
My favorite place I have visited is Peru. It’s so beautiful and has amazing views.
What alternative career would you like to attempt if you could?
I think if I wasn’t a scientist, I would like to help people with the knowledge of biology, and I would be a doctor.
Provide a quote that speaks to you.
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, not the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”-Charles Darwin
Yu Xia
Weill Cornell Medicine
New York City, NY, USA
Current Research
What is your research focus?
My research focuses on zebrafish heart regeneration. In particular, I am interested in the role of the epicardium during development and regeneration.
What current project are you excited about?
Our previous work has identified several distinct epicardial cell clusters and defined one specific cell population as activated epicardial progenitor cells. This specific cell population is indispensable for zebrafish heart regeneration and can give rise to epicardial-derived cells. Now we are trying to figure out how these cells get activated after injury.
What do you like about working with zebrafish? What don’t you like about it?
Zebrafish is a great model for studying regeneration. Many organs and structures of zebrafish can regenerate after injury (i.e., heart, fin, brain, spinal cord, etc.). Moreover, performing surgery on zebrafish is much easier than performing surgery on mammals.
When compared with mice and human cell lines, zebrafish do not get enough support from the research community. I was very frustrated when I was told that it may be more difficult for me to find a job as a scientist who works on zebrafish.
Getting to know you better
Where were you born/where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Guiyang, in the southwest of China. It is a peaceful and quiet city with mountains and forests.
When did you realize you wanted to have a career as a scientist? /What made you realize you wanted to have a career as a scientist?
I always wanted to do something interesting and meaningful. I knew an ordinary job where I just work for a salary was not right for me. When I worked at the bench, I realized that I enjoyed this work because it allowed me to create something new with my own hands. And then, I knew I wanted to be a scientist.
Where did you do your undergraduate studies? Did you do research with anyone?
I did my undergraduate studies at Zhejiang University, in the lab of prof. HaiChun Gao. I studied the mechanism of rugose colony formation in Shewanella oneidensis.
Where did you do your graduate studies and with whom? What did you work on?
I did my graduate studies at University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai in the lab of Dr. Yong Zhou. I studied the role of epithelial membrane protein 2 during zebrafish heart regeneration, focusing mainly on its function in epicardial cells.
Where did you do your postdoctoral studies and with whom? What did you work on?
I’m currently working in Dr. Jingli Cao’s lab, at Weill Cornell Medicine and further studying the mechanisms of zebrafish heart development and regeneration.
What other jobs have you had?
So far, I have only done research in academia.
Science and Careers
Share a turning point or defining moment in your science/career.
A turning point for me was when I was a sophomore in college when I was given the opportunity to change my major and I switched from engineering to biology.
If you could be present for any "Eureka" moment in history (i.e. the moment some scientific discovery was made), which moment would you choose? Why?
If I could, I would want to be present when the first cell or animal emerged during evolution. Organisms are very complicated yet precise in their design. This makes it hard for me to imagine how these molecular structures got together to form a living cell, and how these cells got together to form a living animal. It would be exciting to witness this historic moment.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in science/research?
Science research is not just a job. Do not only focus on the results and enjoy the process!
Where do you think the next scientific breakthroughs are going to occur?
I think the application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in bioinformatics will be the next breakthrough. The rapidly increasing data of all kinds of sequencing results become more and more gigantic and complicated, while only a small group of researchers can utilize and analyze them. AI has significantly improved in recent years; the development of more advanced and capable AI will be a very powerful associate for every researcher.
What is the most challenging part about your science or obtaining your career goals?
The most challenging part about my science is the efficiency of techniques we use during research. It is so disappointing that the efficiency of certain techniques is still unpredictable (i.e. CreERT/loxp system, NTR ablation). Often, we have to repeat again and again to obtain an ideal result to confirm and present our thoughts.
Outside of work
What do you enjoy doing outside of work/lab?
I enjoy working out at the gym.
What are you reading right now (not including research papers)?
Some fantasy fiction.
Name a favorite song or musical piece.
Wonderwall by Oasis.
Favorite place you have lived or visited?
I really miss my home town; it has always been my favorite place to live.
What alternative career would you like to attempt if you could?
Space traveler
Provide a quote that speaks to you.
When we see a man of virtue and talent, we should think of equaling them; when we see a man of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves. - Confucius