Seeking Success in Science Through NIH-Funded Training

Credit: Courtesy of Hasset Nurelegne. “What’s great about a career in research is that there are so many paths you can take. I get so excited for the future when I think about all the open doors ahead of me,” says Hasset Nurelegne, a senior at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Hasset is majoring in neuroscience and behavioral biology (NBB) as well as English. Since her first year on campus, Hasset has been an active participant in an NIGMS-funded program at Emory that aims to develop a diverse pool of scientists, the Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) (which is now just for graduate students; the Maximizing Access to Research Careers [MARC] program is now available for undergraduates). The Emory IMSD has provided Hasset and other trainees with financial assistance for year-round research experiences and a support system for professional development skills and responsible conduct of research. Exploring Research Through her involvement with the Emory IMSD, Hasset got to know the program’s director Anita Corbett, Ph.D. She eventually joined Dr. Corbett’s research lab, where she’s currently studying histones—proteins that keep DNA strands organized within the cell nucleus. Histones play a part in regulating gene expression by controlling how easily genes can be turned on or off. Sometimes histones have changes in their amino acid sequences that affect how they control gene expression, which can lead to cancer. Hasset is studying ...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Being a Scientist Profiles Training Source Type: blogs